Family Literacy Projects Across Nova Scotia Receive Assistance
EDUCATION--CXN--Family Literacy Projects Across Nova Scotia
Receive Assistance
Twelve projects are now helping families to read and write
in communities across Nova Scotia thanks to Family Learning
Initiative Endowment Fund grants. Hugh Smith, president of
the Halifax Youth Foundation, and Education Minister Jane
Purves announced the $65,000 in funding today in recognition
of National Literacy Day, Sunday, Jan. 27.
"Literacy starts at home," said Education Minister Jane
Purves. "Reading helps a child learn and discover all the
new things in his or her world. The Department of Education
understands how important it is to support families in their
efforts to provide their children with a positive learning
environment."
The 12 projects encourage parents to read and write with
their children and provides materials to help them create a
positive learning environment at home.
Launched three years ago, the endowment fund is a
partnership of the Halifax Youth Foundation and the National
Youth Secretariat of Human Resources Development Canada.
Supporting partners include the Department of Community
Services and the Department of Education, which administers
the grant application and review process.
"The work of the community groups we support through this
endowment fund is very important to many, many Nova Scotian
families," said Hugh Smith. "The Halifax Youth Foundation
believes that early education is vital to our children's
future academic skills."
Earlier this month, the province unveiled its Writers in
Action program, which builds on the Active Young Readers
initiative aimed at grades 4 through 6. Both will help Nova
Scotia's youngest students strengthen their reading and
writing skills.
Family literacy is part of Nova Scotia's comprehensive
approach to developing literacy at all levels -- in the
early years, through the public school system and through
adult programs such as workplace literacy, adult education
and community-based literacy programs.