Rotary Demerara, SOCDA partner to promote numeracy and literacy in Sophia

As part of its continued community development strategy, the Rotary Club of Demerara (RCD) has partnered with the Sophia Community Development Association (SOCDA) to promote numeracy and literacy among individuals who need to improve their skills in basic reading, writing and computation, especially in Sophia and its environs.

The Programme was first launched in 2016, by the then Youth Empowerment Office, Ministry of the Presidency, after observing that a number of individuals who demonstrated the desire for a second chance at the CSEC Night School Programme lacked the basic numeracy and literacy skills to be successful at the exam.

The gap that the two organisations are now attempting to bridge, would be the provision of support to youth to increase their functional literacy and numeracy, so that they build on skills that would improve their quality of life, and pro-social community participation.

Recently, the two organisations signed an MOU to revise a model for supporting learners who are identified as poor performers in primary schools, out-of-school youth, and the general adult population deficient in these critical functional literacies. The first cohort nonetheless, will target “At Risk” youth ranging from ages 11-18 years old.

Speaking at a simple signing ceremony held on October 8, President of the Rotary Club of Demerara, Bhageshwar Murli, said that the promotion of education is an integral part of the Club’s work programme.

“Part of our annual work programme at RCD is to work along with other civil society organisations, and develop community based solutions to community problems. This MOU will further advance the partnership between RCD and SOCDA. In the past we donated a number of office furniture to SOCDA and other NGOs to assist them in carrying out their mandate,” Murli said.

Signing on behalf of SOCDA was its Vice-chairman Vanda Adolphus-Hope. She explained that there are a lot of individuals in the Sophia community who cannot read or write. Adolphus-Hope noted that such a partnership will help SOCDA to once again implement and further its numeracy and literacy improvement agenda.

“We had about 45 individuals participating in the pilot programme. I’ve look at their performance during the programme and I saw marked improvements. So I can attest that this programme works and what we are doing will improve the lives of many,” she explained.

Interested potential participants, or those interested in becoming volunteer tutors, should contact SOCDA Headquarters located at 108 ‘C’ Field, Sophia, or call +592-219-0014 or any member of the Rotary Club of Demerara for information on registration.