Hi, my name is Carol Ann Farrell. I am the Co-ordinator of the Laubach Learning Centre in Marystown.

The Laubach Learning Centre is in its eleventh year of operation. The building is a row house in the Smallwood Cresent area of town. Use of the building was donated to us by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. The building works well as the bedrooms make great small classrooms for one-to-one tutoring. Each year the Centre serves thirty to forty students. All our students do not visit our Centre. Many who live far from Marystown meet with a tutor in their homes. The Centre provides books and on-going support to these students and tutors.

We provide help in basic reading, writing, and math skills. We also provide help in preparing students to write General Education Development (GED) exams. In recent years, many of our students have been adults who need to upgrade their reading and math skills. Some of these students write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT) for entry into the adult basic education program offered at the college.

Every year we look for funding to keep the Centre open. For the past six years the government, through the Literacy Development Council, has given us the funds. This is very much appreciated by students and tutors. We look forward to finding the support needed to keep the Centre open for as long as the services are needed.

We welcome you to drop by for a visit.

Hello, my name is Barbara Marshall and I work at the learning centre in West St, Modeste, Labrador. West St. Modeste is in the Labrador Straits. If you look on the map, we are across from the Northern Peninsula on the Strait of Belle Isle.

I work for a group called Partners in Learning. We offer a number of literacy and learning programs throughout the Labrador Straits. These include homework havens, adult tutoring, books for babies, PRINTS, etc. Last year we started a regional clear language newspaper called "Strait Talk". This newspaper has all kinds of information about what is happening in our region. Many people in the region submit pieces to the paper. They usually write about things that are important to them such as health care issues employment/development issues.

Our learning centre operates a little different than many learning centres. We offer drop in programs and outreach for adults and children in the community. We do this because we believe that literacy is "woven through" our lives and communities. Many people and groups come to the learning centre for lots of different reasons. Some want to learn how they can help their children at school. Some want help in filling out forms. Some want help planning a community event. All these things are part of literacy. We let the people in our communities tell us what we should be doing.

The thing I like best about my work is that it is always changing. One day I am working with kids and families. The next day I could be working with a group of seniors on traditional recipes. I have learned many things from the people in our communities. I guess that is the best part. We all work together to support each others learning.