Community Stories
Hilary's Story - Retired PR professional uses love of language to help women build literacy
My entire working career has involved using the power of words to inform, promote and engage. And outside of work, my nose is always in a book. I cannot imagine a world without the ability to read, write and speak with confidence.
When I retired in 2007 at age 55, I knew where my volunteer future lay: helping others with literacy and language. I contacted Frontier College to find out where I could help. They connected me with a program specially designed for Vancouver’s population of female domestic care workers, the Domestic Workers Adult ESL program, created in partnership with the West Coast Domestic Workers Association.
These women’s stories are humbling. Many have left husbands and families to work as a nanny or domestic worker to improve their chances of becoming a Canadian citizen. Often the work hours are long and conditions demanding, involving long commutes by bus and responsible care of elderly folk. Needless to say, being far from home and family in a new city, trying to function in a second language can be frustrating, confusing, and lonely.
My work as a volunteer involves meeting with my student every week for an hour to tutor her in whatever she wants and needs to know. I usually spend an hour in the previous week using Internet and Frontier College resources to build a lesson plan. The lesson time flies by with my student often stumping me with questions about the quirkiness of the English language and our conversational customs.
This volunteer activity is a great fit for me because:
I am directly helping someone and can see first-hand the benefits of our time together
I enjoy the intellectual and creative challenge of creating a lesson plan and tutoring
I am helping to empower women
I am able to put my word-nerdiness to constructive use
I have met new people – intelligent, interesting, skilled and dedicated people of all ages and backgrounds – through Frontier College
But most importantly, I am inspired by the women I work with – their determination, positive outlook, intelligence, humility, sacrifice and work ethic. I come away from tutoring sessions filled with gratitude for the many advantages I have been given simply by being born in Canada. I volunteer to help others, but I feel the true beneficiary of this volunteer arrangement is me.
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Connie, Volunteer
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