FITCHBURG — Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area is seeking people who are willing to help area residents with English language tutoring.
The city-based nonprofit organization was founded in 1973 and is affiliated with Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts. The upcoming volunteer information sessions for those who want to be literacy volunteers are being held at Fitchburg City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 7 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Leominster Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and two Zoom sessions, Jan. 8 and 13.
New volunteers complete an application, receive an 18-hour comprehensive tutor training program, which is made possible with a grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, tutor for two hours per week, and receive ongoing development opportunities, as well as access to free materials and courses. Those interested can email [email protected] or fill out an online form by visiting docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSej435BoRAY5r17zhZUst-KEMFKGPKMeV6agkTeADUV9IZyVA/viewform.
“We are always looking for volunteers, community partners, and supporters who believe in the power of literacy,” said Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area Executive Director Zwanieke Visser of the rewarding experience. “Even a few hours a week can make a lasting difference in someone’s life.”
No teaching experience is required, “just a commitment to learning and supporting adult learners,” Visser said, and they provide support, resources, and workshops for the volunteers throughout the year.
The Lunenburg resident first got involved with the nonprofit four years ago after visiting the organization’s table at the annual Apple Blossom Festival at Sholan Farms in Leominster, a fateful encounter that led her to where she is today.
“I stopped at [their] table to ask for information because I was interested in becoming a volunteer tutor,” Visser disclosed. “During our conversation, I learned that the organization was also searching for a new executive director and at the same time, I was looking for a new professional opportunity. What began as an interest in volunteering turned into a perfect match and I ultimately stepped into the role of executive director rather than becoming a tutor.”
There are currently approximately 40 active literacy volunteers who serve adults in the Montachusett region, including communities such as Ashburnham, Ashby, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Lancaster, Leominster, Shirley, Townsend, Westminster, and more.
“Our adult students come from many different cultural backgrounds and countries, including the U.S., and speak a wide variety of native languages,” Visser said. “Our students are native English speakers that need to improve their reading and writing skills or native English speakers that need to improve their English skills.”
Services they offer include free, confidential adult basic literacy tutoring, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tutoring, conversation circles, citizenship preparation classes, and short-term English courses and workshops.
“Most tutoring is one-to-one, allowing instruction to be tailored to each learner’s goals,” Visser said. “Literacy is about dignity, opportunity, and inclusion. Our volunteers are deeply committed to supporting neighbors who want to improve their lives and contribute fully to their communities. This work strengthens not only individuals, but families and the community as a whole.”
As a North Central Mass resident for several years, Visser said she appreciates the feeling of community she herself has felt and experienced.
“It has truly become home for me and my family, and I value the strong sense of connection and care people show for one another here,” she said.
Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area, a nonprofit organization based in Fitchburg, is seeking volunteers to help provide confidential, English language tutoring for residents in the region. (COURTESY ZWANIEKE VISSER)When asked what the biggest benefits are for the literacy program participants, Visser noted “improved literacy and/or English skills,” which in turn “help students gain confidence, independence, and opportunity.”
“Our students use these skills to communicate with teachers and doctors, support their children’s education, advance in their jobs, prepare for citizenship, and feel more connected to their community,” she said.
Visser reported that, while ICE activity in the region has certainly made some of their tutors and students “uncomfortable and caused some to shy away from fully participating in the program,” she wants people to know “that our services are confidential, welcoming, and focused solely on education.”
“Creating a safe and respectful learning environment is a top priority for us, especially during uncertain times,” she emphasized.
She said it’s important to her and the literacy volunteers to provide these valuable services to their fellow community members and that she enjoys being part of the process.
“I love seeing the relationships that form between tutors and students and witnessing the small but powerful moments of progress — reading a first book, holding a conversation, no longer needing a translator, passing a citizenship interview,” Visser said. “It is incredibly rewarding to be part of an organization that changes lives through human connection and learning.”
For more information call 978-343-8184, email [email protected], visit lvmonta.org, and follow Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area on Facebook and Instagram.
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