Last year, we conducted a survey of our dedicated volunteer tutors. During the past year, about 125 tutors provided individual instruction in many different areas of literacy to over 470 learners. Tutors often express enormous satisfaction with their volunteer experience and with the help they receive from the staff at Project Literacy but the Board wanted to get their opinions down in “black and white.” Since tutors are the backbone of Project Literacy, it was also important to solicit their ideas for the direction PLKS should be taking in the future.
To summarize very briefly, the results of the survey:
- Over 50% of current tutors responded to the online survey
- On the average, tutors volunteered about 11 hours per month
- Tutors volunteered for many reasons: to give back to the community, a wish to promote literacy, a desire to help newcomers to Canada, a love of teaching and a desire to help others
- 98% of tutors were extremely or moderately satisfied with their volunteer experience at PLKS
- 100% of tutors would recommend PLKS as a place to volunteer
- Tutors also provided many suggestions for fundraising initiatives and 50% of all tutors indicated they would participate in fundraising events
- Other suggestions included: examine ways to increase our membership, provide laptops in all offices, better computers and newer resource materials, find meaningful ways to show appreciation and thanks to our tutors, formulate a process to incorporate evaluation and feedback from learners, improve the website, explore ways to promote PLKS in the community
Since this survey was completed, the PLKS Board of Directors and the staff have made many of the tutor suggestions a priority. After the move to our new office on Bertram Avenue last October, we now have seven tutor/learner rooms with access to a computer in every room. Learner resource materials are being constantly upgraded and the website has been completely revamped and is up and running. A new brochure is being designed for distribution to our sponsors, donors and to other members of the community. For over twenty-seven years, Project Literacy has been an integral part of the greater Kelowna community. Using the feedback provided by our tutors and learners, we will keep our organization relevant and vibrant.