Volunteers promote literacy with personal tutoring – minotdailynews.com

Report on Minot Literacy Volunteers and Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Minot Literacy Volunteers (MLV) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing individualized literacy instruction to residents in the Minot area. The organization’s free, one-on-one, confidential tutoring services directly support the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on education, economic growth, and inequality reduction. This report outlines the operational model, community impact, and direct contributions of MLV to the global SDG framework.

Organizational Mission and Alignment with SDG 4 (Quality Education)

MLV’s core mission is to offer personalized tutoring in reading, writing, and speaking, thereby promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. This work is a direct implementation of SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.

• Inclusive and Equitable Access: By offering free services in public locations, MLV removes financial and social barriers, providing educational opportunities to individuals who may not be served by traditional systems.
• Lifelong Learning (Target 4.6): The program primarily serves adults, helping them acquire fundamental literacy and numeracy skills. Clients include those seeking to read to their children, understand essential documents, or pursue further education, embodying the principle of lifelong learning.
• Personalized Goal Achievement: Tutoring is tailored to individual needs, with achievable goals set collaboratively. This personalized approach ensures that learners, including those with specific challenges, can make meaningful progress.

Economic and Social Impact: Addressing SDG 8, SDG 10, and SDG 1

The enhancement of literacy skills has a profound impact on the economic and social well-being of individuals and the community, directly contributing to several interconnected SDGs.

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: MLV empowers clients to improve their employment prospects. By helping individuals gain the literacy required to enter General Equivalency Diploma (GED) programs, pass job-related tests, or better comprehend workplace documents, the organization contributes to achieving full and productive employment.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program is a key tool for reducing inequalities within the community. It provides critical support to English language learners seeking to improve their reading and writing proficiency, as well as to native speakers who have faced educational disadvantages. This work helps level the playing field for economic and social participation.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty: Improved literacy is a foundational step toward economic stability. By enabling individuals to secure better employment, MLV’s services can be a catalyst for breaking the cycle of poverty.

Operational Framework and Partnerships (SDG 17)

MLV’s operational success is built on a model of community collaboration and support, reflecting the principles of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The organization leverages a network of partnerships to sustain its activities.

• Strategic Partnerships: MLV operates out of space provided by the Adult Learning Center and receives client referrals from it and local schools. Financial support from Souris Valley United Way is critical for acquiring educational materials.
• Community Fundraising: Bi-annual book sales, stocked by year-round community donations, serve as a primary fundraising mechanism. These events also foster community engagement and support.
• Volunteer-Based Service Delivery: The program is delivered by volunteers, who are essential partners in achieving the organization’s mission. Volunteers are required to be over 18 and possess a desire to help, making community participation central to the service model.

Volunteer Recruitment and Contact Information

To continue its mission and expand its impact, Minot Literacy Volunteers actively seeks to enlarge its pool of volunteer tutors. Interested parties can connect with the organization through the following channels:

• Telephone: 852-2614 (message service)
• Email: minotliteracy@gmail.com
• Social Media: Direct outreach via social media platforms.
• In-Person: Prospective volunteers can meet current members during the scheduled book sales.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article about Minot Literacy Volunteers highlights issues and actions that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on providing literacy skills connects to education, while the outcomes of this work touch upon economic growth, inequality reduction, and partnerships.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire mission of Minot Literacy Volunteers is to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” The organization provides free, one-on-one tutoring in reading, writing, and speaking to adults and youth, directly contributing to lifelong learning.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article connects literacy skills to economic opportunities. It states that clients seek assistance to get their General Equivalency Diploma (GED), improve their skills to get desired jobs, and read documents necessary for employment. By improving literacy, the organization helps individuals enhance their employability and potential for economic growth.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The services offered by Minot Literacy Volunteers help reduce inequalities within the community. By providing free and confidential tutoring, they ensure that literacy support is accessible regardless of a person’s economic status. The article mentions serving foreign speakers and families, demonstrating a commitment to including vulnerable or marginalized groups and helping them overcome barriers to social and economic participation.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article clearly illustrates the importance of partnerships. Minot Literacy Volunteers collaborates with multiple entities, including the Adult Learning Center (which provides space), Souris Valley United Way (which provides financial support), and local schools (which refer students and provide student volunteers). The organization also relies on community volunteers and donations, showcasing a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving its goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and goals described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  • Target 4.6: “By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.” The core work of Minot Literacy Volunteers is to provide instruction to improve skills in “reading, writing or speaking” for adults and some youth, directly aligning with this target.
  • Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The article mentions clients who need literacy skills to be accepted into GED programs or to “get the jobs they want,” which are relevant skills for employment.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.6: “By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.” Although the target year has passed, the organization’s work with youth who might “drop out” of school or for whom school services “aren’t the fit they need” contributes to keeping them engaged in education and training, which is the spirit of this target.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” By offering free, confidential services to a diverse client base, including “foreign speakers” and families, the organization empowers individuals to overcome literacy barriers and participate more fully in the economy and society.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.” The article details partnerships with the Adult Learning Center, Souris Valley United Way, and schools. It also highlights its reliance on community donations and volunteers, which is a clear example of a civil society partnership in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several qualitative and quantitative measures that can be used to track progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

  • Number of clients served: The article mentions that a “predominant portion of our clients are adults or families” and that “youth make up a small portion.” Tracking the number of individuals and families receiving tutoring would be a direct indicator of reach.
  • Achievement of personalized goals: The article states, “We set a goal, and it’s sometimes very personalized.” Examples of goals include getting into a GED class, passing a test, getting a better job, or being able to read to their children. The rate of goal achievement would be a key performance indicator.
  • Client-reported progress and confidence: The article notes that even clients who discontinue the program “still say they feel they made progress and are more confident.” This suggests that client feedback and self-assessment of confidence are used as measures of success.

• Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

  • Number of active volunteers: The organization actively seeks to enlarge its “pool of volunteers.” The number of active tutors is a direct measure of community engagement and capacity.
  • Funds raised and donations received: The article mentions fundraising through spring and fall book sales and the acceptance of community book donations year-round. The amount of money raised and the volume of donations are indicators of community support.
  • Number and quality of institutional partnerships: The established relationships with the Adult Learning Center, Souris Valley United Way, and schools are indicators of successful partnerships. The continuation and strengthening of these collaborations would measure progress.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: minotdailynews.com