Living in a digital world, it is hard to convince a child to pick up a book.
The Elementary Literacy Friends program is hoping to change that.
Spokesperson Melissa McKinnon says they recruit volunteers who work one on one with grade 2 students, “We find when they are buddied up with someone and the trust is built there, they come out of their shell and they start to enjoy reading. It is one of those things that the one on one sometimes, it is just that extra push and motivation that is needed.”
Volunteers work with the students twice a week for ten weeks.
“The role of the volunteer, is to just be the student’s mentor and champion. Get them motivated and encouraged about reading,” McKinnon says.
Most of the Anglophone Schools in the province offer the program. There are usually have five to six volunteers in each school.
Full training is provided for the program. Sessions are coming up in the near future in Saint John and Moncton.
