YWCA adopts literacy program

When Project Literacy, a free tutoring program for adults organized by the Danville Literacy Council, needed a new home this year, the YWCA of Danville and Pittsylvania County stepped in and adopted the program.

Formerly funded by Danville Public Schools, Project Literacy found shelter and a new director under the YWCA last month, thanks to Danville Literacy Council director Nancy Jiranek. Jiranek also found a new facilitator for Project Literacy, Deborah Howell.

“I’m really trying to recruit new students,” Howell said. “There is a great need and a lot of people aren’t aware of our services or that they’re free.”

Project Literacy began in 1986 to help adults learn to read or improve their reading, math, spelling and writing skills through volunteer tutors and donated tutoring spaces. In its first 20 years, Project Literacy helped more than 650 Danville area adults.

Tutors must undergo formalized 12-hour training and meet with students a couple of hours a week, usually in a

one-on-one setting. Howell said the student and tutor decide where and when to meet. Classes have been held all over town, with Project Literacy serving on average about 40 students at a time.

“We make it as easy as we can for them to utilize our services,” she said. “I don’t think the general population understands how many people struggle with reading.”

Many students tutored also complete their GEDs while attending literacy classes. The literacy classes are in a four-level program, and once students complete the fourth level, Howell said they consider them ready to start studying for the GED.

“You’d be just amazed at the difference in people’s lives once they do (complete their GED),” she said. “So many things are opened up to them.”

Howell, who is originally from Virginia and moved back a few years ago, has taught elementary school in other states and GED classes in Franklin County.

“It’s harder to work with adults than children because have a lot of things that hold them back,” Howell said. “Once they do have the courage to come forward and seek help, it is so amazing to see the lights come on in their eyes.

“People come to us — they just want to be able to read bedtime stories to their children or read their Bible or get their GED. The motivations are so many.”