Archives
FOR RELEASE #06-001
January 5, 2006
Yukon Renews Commitment Through Disbursement of Literacy Funds
WHITEHORSE - The Literacy Action Committee disbursed three rounds of funding in 2005, with the continued support of the Government of Yukon, for local literacy initiatives throughout the Yukon.
Most recently in November, approximately $78,000 was awarded to 15 groups operating literacy initiatives in Whitehorse and in the communities. The Literacy Action Committee was formed to address Yukoners’ literacy needs of as outlined in the 2001 Yukon Literacy Strategy, which was written in consultation with literacy stakeholders throughout the Yukon.
"With the targeted funding available through the Literacy Action Committee, we are strategically working towards improving literacy rates for all Yukoners," Education Minister John Edzerza said.
"We are very pleased with the International Adult Literacy Skills Survey results released in November - Yukoners have, on average, the highest literacy rates in Canada," Edzerza added. “The survey also indicated that while literacy is high for some groups, we still have room for improvement in other areas."
Literacy Action Committee 2005 disbursements totaled nearly $200,000 and literacy initiatives also received government support from the Community Training Fund programs. In addition to Literacy Action Committee funding, the Government of Yukon has dedicated $100,000 to undertake a review of the Yukon Literacy Strategy in spring of this year.
"I am pleased that the Literacy Action Committee has been able to make a meaningful impact on the lives of so many Yukoners. Over 73 per cent of our successful applications came from projects in the communities where the need is greatest," Literacy Action Committee co-chair Rick Goodfellow said. "The projects funded by the committee are unique to each community therefore; the projects are more engaging and effective in terms of delivering literacy education."
"The Literacy Action Committee looks forward to continuing our work in 2006 on behalf of the Government of Yukon and our other partners in literacy under the guidance of the Yukon Literacy Strategy," Goodfellow added.
The next call for Literacy Action Committee funding proposals takes place this year. Interested organizations can call Carol Leef at 667-8682 for an application.
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Attachment: Literacy Action Committee funding awarded in the 3rd disbursement for 2005/06
Contact:
| Peter Carr Cabinet Communications (867) 667-8688 peter.carr@gov.yk.ca |
Clea Ainsworth Communications, Education (867) 393-7102 clea.ainsworth@gov.yk.ca |
ATTACHMENT: Literacy Action Committee funding awarded in 3rd disbursement (2005/06)
|
Organization |
Activity |
Total Approved |
|
Epace France – Yukon |
CD and book library – French language resources |
$2,900 |
|
Southern Tutchone Tribal Council and Yukon Learn Society |
Community Literacy Resource Partnership – to provide books and related literacy resources in three communities; to assist tutors and learners to improve reading, writing and workplace literacy skills. |
$6,000 |
|
Yukon College – Old Crow Campus |
Literacy in Action - to provide evening accessibility to computers and tutor support for the community. |
$3,680
|
|
Yukon Council on Disability |
Computers for Employment - to provide access to individualized assistive technology with support to use the technology as a tool for job searches. |
$5,425 |
|
Dawson Daycare |
Pre-school Program - early literacy exposure for children ages 3-5 using a variety of resources and methods to prepare children for school. |
$6,000
|
|
Autism Yukon |
Autism Resource Centre - to set up a library of literacy and autism resources. The library will be available to all, but will be of specific interest to parents, caregivers, educators or those diagnosed with autism. |
$5,550
|
|
Town of Faro |
Words Alive - a community theatre and writing project which will bring words alive through drama, puppet shows, shadow shows and theatrical presentations for community enjoyment. |
$6,000 |
|
Yukon College – Dawson Campus |
Adult Literacy Sessions - to provide a weekly reading and writing literacy class to complement computer literacy classes during the academic year.
|
$1,500 |
|
Quarton Professional Corporation |
Support Group…Learning Disabilities - to organize a support group for parents of children with language-based learning disabilities and to develop a handbook of resources. |
$6,000 |
|
Yukon Literacy Coalition |
Yukon Storysacks - to create a Storysack network across the Yukon. Communities will be given the opportunity to create Storysacks and exchange them with other communities. |
$6,000
|
|
Christ the King - Mayo |
Mayo Community Literacy Program - to provide individual literacy tutoring for adults, which will include the use of computers. |
$6,000
|
|
Teslin Tlingit Council Daycare |
Tlingit Language and Literacy Programming - a Tlingit-based literacy program in the daycare featuring parent involvement and participation. Funding will cover the creation two books and visual learning materials in Tlingit and English. |
$5,000
|
|
Old Crow Community Library Board |
Community Library Events - to create community literacy events that encourage literacy development in English and Gwich’in and use of the newly opened library. |
$6,000 |
|
Selkirk First Nation Daycare |
Our Children & Our Language - to provide children with the opportunity to hear and learn their native language and record the sessions for use in the daycare and Selkirk First Nation archives. |
$5,793
|
|
White River First Nation |
First Nations Workplace Literacy Pilot - to research and design a First Nation workplace literacy model in partnership with Yukon Literacy Coalition. The consultation will involve workplaces, elders, workers, leaders and administrators. The model will be available to other First Nations when completed. |
$6,000
|