Are you a student who has been looking to have a positive impact in your community and across the world?
Have you wanted to make a difference in the lives of others?
Are you hoping to find a time-flexible volunteer opportunity that can work with your schedule?
Are you looking to acquire official volunteer hours?
Would you be interested in connecting with like-minded youth from across Canada?
Then keep reading...
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BECOME
A Powerful Leader of Change
(WHILE RESPECTING YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE)
Do you want the opportunity to
Meet Like-Minded Students
Get Leadership Exeperience
Change the Lives of Children
The problem you can learn to do something about is...
Literacy.
You might not know how much the world is struggling with this issue, but it is a big problem.
Lacking vital literacy skills holds a person back at every stage of their life. As a child they won't be able to succeed at school, as an adult they will not be able to participate in the majority of jobs, and as a parent they will struggle to support their own child's learning.
Moreover, in addition to affecting the individual, literacy can affect economic growth, a country's mortality rate, and even its ability to uphold democracy.
The bottom line is literacy is pretty important!
Globally, 775 million adults are illiterate, and 250 million children are failing to acquire basic literacy skills.
Some of those failing are children living in poverty in Northern Ghana.
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Less than 25% of children can read for their grade level in Create Change's partner communities in Northern Ghana.
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Children do not have access to reading and writing materials, making it difficult to learn.
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There is also a serious problem with committed teachers. Most teachers are men who come from families who could afford to support their teaching degrees.
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Children additionally lack support at home, as the majority of their parents are illiterate themselves and have never been to school.
Now this might surprise you but...
Canada also struggles with literacy
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Nearly half of adult Canadians struggle with literacy, falling short when it comes to properly comprehending complex texts.
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One in six Canadians don't possess even basic literacy skills.
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While people are leaving high school with skills, because they are not in the practice of reading at home and their careers don't demand it, they eventually lose their reading comprehension skills.
(CBC, 2021)
How can we support literacy in both Northern Ghana, and in Canada?
This is where you come in.
We know how many Canadian youth have something meaningful to contribute, so over the past 7 years we have been designing programs that have transformed hundreds of youth across Canada to become powerful leaders of change.
We now have a new exciting opportunity available to empower Canadian youth to help promote literacy to children around the world.
INTRODUCING THE
Literacy Leadership Program
An opportunity for Canadian youth to make an impact
GET THE CHANCE TO STAND UP AND BE A COMMUNITY LEADER
The Literacy Leadership Program is an opportunity for youth across Canada to make a difference both in Canada, and in Ghana, West Africa. With a limited time commitment required but a large impact as a result, this unique program provides flexibility while allowing participants to experience something meaningful while acquiring new skills and gaining leadership experience.
A SOLUTION WHERE
everyone benefits
A win-win-win opportunity to promote literacy.
Get Canadian Elementary Students Reading
Bring Literacy Programs to Children in Ghana
Gain Leadership and Volunteer Experience
We are so excited to share with you an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children, in not one but TWO different places in the world, through this program that offers flexible time commitment, leadership experience, and volunteer hours.
This FREE program will support you to improve your leadership skills, and to create a meaningful impact in the lives of children, through literacy.
how it works
We will guide you each step of the way to become a Literacy Leader.
Get Training & Support
Participate in a 5 week online training course, to get the skills and know-how to be a Literacy Leader.
Local Community Outreach
Get the A-Z guide on community outreach, to support you to partner with local elementary schools.
Organize a
Read-A-Thon
With all the materials and steps provided for you, hold a read-a-thon fundraiser at partner schools.
Create Literacy Around the World
With funds raised from your read-a-thon, support children living in poverty in Ghana to become literate.
who can become a literacy leader?
Create Change programs do not require previous volunteer or leadership experience. We are looking for students ages 13 - 24, who are passionate about learning and are looking for an opportunity to acquire new skills, grow their confidence, and gain experience making a difference in their community, and abroad.
program benefits
Skills & Experience
Students will have the opportunity to gain skills such as goal setting, storytelling, community engagement, and leadership.
Volunteer Hours
Participating students will have the opportunity to receive official volunteer hours for the time they contribute.
Expand your CV
This program will add something unique to your CV so you can stand out to employers and university admissions.
Have an Impact
Get the opportunity to change lives, both children in your very own community and children living in poverty in Northern Ghana.
program details
5 Weeks Online
Participants must attend a weekly 2 hour webinar/ conference call where instruction takes place.
Interactive opportunity
Get the opportunity to practice skills each class with your cohort peers so you are well equipped to take action.
Weekly Action
Get support to take action each week so you will move forward to complete your goals in no time.
Community Platform
Get access to our Create Change community platform where you can find like-minded students and support.
Ongoing Support
After completing the online classes, continue to receive support via monthly events and community platform.
Flexible Time
With 6 months to complete the program, work at your own pace according to your own schedule.
about your facilitator
Shannen O'Brian
Shannen is the Founder and Executive Director of Create Change Foundation. The programs she has designed have empowered thousands of girls to climb out of poverty in Northern Ghana, and transformed hundreds of youth across Canada into powerful leaders of change.
Shannen has a BA in International Development, a Masters in Human Rights, and is a certified Mindset and Youth Coach.
She has spent much of her adult life living and working in Northern Ghana, but currently resides in British Columbia, where she was born and raised.
Shannen's passion in life is helping youth to realize their potential to become leaders and have a positive impact in the world.
Become a Literacy Leader today!
Are you interested in this program? You can either register right now, or contact us with any questions you might have to help you to decide if this program is for you!
We only have 50 spots available for all students across Canada, and our next program launches October 13th, 2021.
Classes will take place on Wednesdays at 4:30pm Pacific Time/ 7:30pm Eastern time via Zoom for 5 weeks. Class recordings will be available in case you are unable to attend all classes.