LIHU‘E — For more than 40 years, the Hawai‘i Literacy Program has helped adults weave tighter into the community’s fabric by providing tools that enable them to read and write with clarity. And it’s all free. Kaua‘i Adult Literacy Coordinator
LIHU‘E — For more than 40 years, the Hawai‘i Literacy Program has helped adults weave tighter into the community’s fabric by providing tools that enable them to read and write with clarity. And it’s all free.
Kaua‘i Adult Literacy Coordinator Dennis Dresser said there are about 5,700 adults on Kaua‘i who have some difficulties with reading and writing. And to help them overcome those problems, the program is now in dire need of help from the community.
“We need help teaching people how to read,” said Dresser, who is asking the community to step forward and volunteer as tutors.
Despite being in Hawai‘i since 1971, it was only in 2006 that the nonprofit organization arrived on Kaua‘i. At that time, the Kaua‘i program had full state funding, and there were two tutors here on the island serving one student, Dresser said.
In 2007, Dresser and his wife Claudia took over the program, and have since revamped it and boosted it with hard, diligent and tireless work. The state funding was mostly gone, and the nonprofit now relies mostly on grants and donations.
The financial challenges, however, was no deterrent to the Dressers. By 2009, the program had an impressive roster of 32 tutors on Kaua‘i, and in the last five years graduated about 90 students.
The majority of the students, about 80 to 85 percent, speak English as a second language, according to Dennis Dresser.
Claudia Dresser said besides teaching adults how to write and speak English properly, the program prepares them to be functional in the society.
“We graduated some very good students,” Dennis Dresser said.
Some of their students opened their own businesses, while others received significant promotions at their jobs after being tutored.
But in the last two years, the economic depression caused many tutors to leave the island or to get a second job, and the number of available tutors dropped dramatically. The Kaua‘i program now has only six or seven volunteers, half of the minimum number necessary to service all those in need on the island, according to Dennis Dresser.
He said the program takes students who are 18 years of age or older, but will also take those who are 16 years old and not currently attending school. The majority of the students are between their late 20s and their early 40s.
Volunteer tutors come in all ages, from early 20s to late 80s. About 50 to 60 percent are retired and some are former teachers, according to Dennis Dresser.
“It’s a way of giving back to the community and to make a difference,” said Claudia Dresser, who is in charge of training tutors. “It makes you feel good about yourself.”
Dennis Dresser echoed his wife’s words, and added that the Hawai‘i Literacy Program will do anything to help somebody.
Hawai‘i Literacy provides free confidential one-on-one tutoring for adults. The books are not free, but if the student can’t afford the books, there is financial help available.
Those interested in finding out more information on tutoring, or wanting to enroll in classes, can contact Dennis Dresser at islandvision@hawaii.rr.com or call 332-5544.
Visit www.hawaiiliteracy.org/programs/kauai/ for additional information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
