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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 19, 2008 - 27 Helping boost literacy P eople are always surprised to learn Oakville has a literacy problem. This town is thought of as an affluent community, but the truth is some people here do face literacy challenges. Forty-two per cent of Canadians, aged 16 to 65, are at literacy levels one and two, below the minimum of what is suitable for coping with everyday demands. This statistic rings true for the Oakville, too. It is hard to believe a person at level one literacy cannot read. They could not understand a medicine bottle or simple safety instructions. People at a level two literacy can only handle simple material and have difficulty facing new tasks at work or in the community. Oakville Literacy Council volunteer tutors work one-on-one with participants to help improve reading, writing and basic math skills. They encourage adults to make positive changes in their lives through improved literacy skills. For many it is a life-changing experience. The problem of poor literacy skills is not isolated to the individual. Spouses, family members and society at large are also affected. Low literacy is connected to poverty and crime. Health and safety are at risk if people cannot read instructions or warnings. Sadly, low literacy is often passed on to succeeding generations. As this community grows and changes so do the needs of its members. One-quarter of the population of Oakville speaks a language other than English or French as a first language and one in three residents of Oakville is an immigrant to Canada. The Oakville Literacy Council is helping new Englishspeakers to improve their reading and writing and gain the skills and independence needed to thrive in this community. The Oakville Literacy Council is one of the more than 30 human and social service agencies funded by United Way of Oakville. United Way funds agencies and programs with an emphasis on prevention and crisis intervention. This balance allows United Way to help maintain the ongoing health of Oakville and provide support to those in the greatest need. For more information, visit www.uwoakville.org. -- Submitted by the United Way of Oakville