Empowering parents to see themselves as their child’s
primary teacher – while allowing parents to take advantage of adult literacy
classes and their children acquire early learning education. That is what
Family Literacy Yes! (FLY!) aims to achieve.
Preschool-aged children attend early learning classes at Quality
Life Center free of charge while their parents take English as a Second
Language (ESOL) or GED preparation classes at Dunbar Community School. The
final component of the program takes place weekly when the parents and children
spend time together reading. Each week, parents are given a book to take home.
This opportunity for early learning development and adult
literacy comes about through a collaboration with Quality Life Center, the
Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the Hunter Institute at FGCU, Dunbar
Community School and the Barbara Bush Foundation.
An unexpected benefit of the program has been the diversity
that has been added to the early learning classrooms with children from Haiti,
Uzbekistan and a variety of Spanish-speaking countries. “The different cultures
the children bring to the classroom adds a richness to the educational
experience that could not be achieved otherwise,” said Early Learning
Instructor Nephtalie Loiseau.
A few new spots will be available beginning in January. To
qualify, parents must not have a high school diploma or GED, enroll in an adult
class at a Dunbar Community School, family income is at or below the federal
poverty level and have a child age 2-5 years old. For more information, call Larry Aguilar at
Quality Life Center, 239.334.2797. Quality Life Center is a Barbara Bush Family
Literacy Program Provider.
