Literacy, numeracy skills taught to Stratus workers

Farmworkers get up as early as 5 a.m. and start work shortly after a cup of coffee. This summer in particular, the heat, humidity and rain have made many work days quite challenging. But none of this stops six Stratus Vineyards farmworkers from spending their free time on Tuesday evenings improving their literacy and numeracy skills.

Kevin McDonald, from Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, said the program, offered through Niagara Regional Literacy Council, “refreshes my mind, because,” he adds with a large smile, “I’ve been out of school for quite a while.”

Andrel Lawson, who has been flying here from Westmoreland, Jamaica, for the past nine years, heard about the literacy program and joined as soon as he could. Newcomer Delan Samuels, from Saint Mary, Jamaica, decided to join to “try to improve myself more in reading, as well as much more that is offered to me.”

Samuels is referring to not only literacy, but also numeracy skills that are sharpened during each 90 minute session by tutor Suzanne, a former teacher, who has chosen not to have her last name used for this article. This is Suzanne’s second year tutoring, and she is invested in helping out.

“It’s the teacher in me, the desire to share that knowledge with others,” said Suzanne. “Also the sadness that I feel when I see people who haven’t done so well at school or haven’t had the opportunity, or struggled for whatever reason.”

“I realize that life as an adult becomes a lot more difficult when they don’t have good basic literacy and numeracy skills,” said Suzanne. “And it’s not a hard thing to gain. So it’s giving the guys confidence because some, they’re not young anymore and so someone can tend to perhaps feel, ‘well, it’s a bit late. I’ve missed the boat,’ but that’s not true.”

“I’ve been interested in literacy for a long time because of my teaching background and just wanted to have some involvement with helping other people in the areas of literacy. I did some research online and I searched for adult literacy and this organization came up, Niagara Regional Literacy Council.”

Christine Restivo has been the executive director of the literacy council since 1991. “NRLC is a community-based not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to increasing literacy through upgrading basic educational skills,” said Restivo. They are funded through the Ministry of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, United Way, and OLG Bingo.

Restivo and two other employees assess learners, train tutors and pair the two according to best fit and geography. The literacy council provides learners and tutors with all the resources that are needed, but that doesn’t stop tutors like Suzanne from building lessons around the learners’ goals, such as sending an email and opening a points card account.

Suzanne explained that the resources are helpful for someone who is new at tutoring. “It wasn’t like you had to plan your own activities, yet you were free to supplement. There was a lot of room for playing games or adding other things, but you certainly had enough to start with. You didn’t go in cold.”

Originally, the literacy council received a call from a Jamaican farmworker from Stratus who was interested in improving his literacy and numeracy skills. Restivo said the council does not have any other farmworkers or wineries involved with the program, but they are willing to provide services if they have enough volunteer tutors.

“Tutors are trained via a 12-hour workshop which teaches them sensitivity, the use of all of our materials, and the best way to teach an adult. People interested in becoming a tutor should have time flexibility, and a sensitivity to teaching adults who have, because of circumstance or other, low literacy and numeracy skills,” explained Restivo.

Tutors and learners meet in public places. The literary council offices are available for tutoring sessions, and others have found libraries and community centres convenient to their home locations. The Stratus farmworkers meet in one of three meeting spaces in the winery on Niagara Stone Road.

Linton Beale, from Manchester, Jamaica, has “been here 12 years now, and I have been in the program from the beginning. I’m interested to learn. It helps me a lot, you know.”

Oral Walters, hailing from Clarendon, Jamaica, has been here for 19 years, and he said that the program helps him with reading and pronunciation.

Sabado Townsend, also originally from Clarendon, moved to St. Catharines several years ago to raise his children.  He, like the others, has been involved in the tutoring program since its inception at Stratus.

Suzanne said she has noticed a progression of learning from the beginning of last year (her first year tutoring) to the end of this year. “It was a short period of time because of working around harvest and different things like that. I still saw a real, definite progression. They all improved, and just even in confidence too, and in being willing to read out loud, or willing to have a go at certain questions.”

“I could see some real pride there,” said Suzanne. “It was actually quite a humble sort of pride, but I could see week by week as they scored higher and higher on mental math quizzes, that they really felt proud of themselves. They could see their own improvements.”

There is another reason Suzanne, a newcomer herself to Niagara-on-the-Lake, volunteers her time. “There’s a part of me that wants to reach out to people who haven’t grown up here, haven’t been born here, and just be friends with them to help create a community.”

Liam Reeves, vineyard manager at Stratus Vineyards, said that the literacy program for farmworkers from Jamaica started about 10 years ago. Farmworkers can choose to abstain from the literacy program, however, they are paid for their time spent learning.

“It’s an opportunity for the guys to learn, and then, if it helps them be able to do their work here a little bit better too, that’s awesome. So we kind of see it as a win-win, you know,” said Reeves.

“At the end of the day,” he added, “there’s a lot of talk about how a lot of offshore workers get treated. But we are very conscious about making sure that these guys are comfortable while they’re here and are treated properly. Learning is an opportunity for them.

“They don’t have an easy job. They work long hours. They work long weeks and they generally are more upset when I give them an extra day off versus an extra day at work. Because they’re getting paid, they feel like they’re able to actually go and learn,” Reeves said.

Hannah Burns, a Grade 11 student at Eden High School, has also been volunteering as a tutor’s assistant. “Personally, I helped with the smaller tasks, such as putting up papers and writing things for them to see, handing out papers and generally keeping things organized,” she said.

Besides achieving community service hours as part of her graduation requirements, Burns enjoyed her time tutoring the farmworkers. “I think it’s fun. Teaching is something that’s in my back pocket for a career and it was fun to experience what it would be like,” she said.

The literacy council, which services all of the Niagara Region, is also proud to announce its new Skills for Success program, which offers employment related digital and computer instruction, such as job search, study skills, staying safe online, apprenticeship and trades information, and more.

“We will be working with underrepresented groups to help them obtain new or better employment opportunities,” said Restivo.

With some openings to fill due to retirement, the council is looking for a few board members. Some requirements include meeting 10 times a year, and a general understanding of how charities work. Board members also take the 12-hour tutor workshop so they understand the materials used by the literacy council, however, it is not expected that they become tutors themselves.

“We also teach pre-GED (General Education Development test, signifying a high school equivalency) for people wanting to take their GED exams,” added Restivo.

Those interested in either accessing the tutor program, in being a volunteer tutor or a board member can call 905-684-3500 ext 550.

“We’re desperate for tutors in all areas of the Niagara Region,” Restivo said.

Reporter Sharon Burns is one of three generations helping farmworkers with literacy. A retired principal, she helps teach the  farmworkers at Stratus Winery. Christine Restivo is her mother, and Hannah is her daughter.