Volunteer Stories

"One day I just realized how fortunate my life truly is. I decided that I needed to give back. I thought of working at a soup kitchen, or doing something for the homeless, when one day after reading a news article about the incredible number of illiterate adults in Rhode Island, I decided that being a tutor was a way of reaching out and helping others.

My student has a great personality and is a very hardworking individual. With a family to support, a full-time job, and working on breaking many old habits, his main goal now is to obtain his GED. He is very smart and has taught me a few things, such as never giving up, and that anyone can truly change their lifestyle with a lot of will power. I encourage him and admire him greatly." -Betty F.

"I sometimes think that I have gotten as much or more from my tutoring experience than my student has. I get such a wonderful feeling from helping someone learn to speak and understand English. My student is so motivated to learn as much as she can. She has a young daughter and wants a better life for her. Since we started working together, my student has improved her English language skills and her job situation. She used to work for a low wage at a cleaning company, but now she has started her own cleaning business. She earns more and has a more flexible schedule so that she can spend time with her family. It is rewarding to know that in some way I've helped her achieve this." -Ann M.

"The Literacy Volunteers training program was really helpful in preparing me to work with my ESL student. We have been meeting weekly at a library, where we focus on new vocabulary and pronunciation. My student works 6 days a week but manages to fit in time to improve his English so that he can get a better job. He is very motivated, and I feel like I am doing something really worthwhile for him and his family. Tutoring is an experience I wouldn't trade for anything." -Dana M.