Education is fundamental in creating a future of opportunity for all. It is a significant factor when it comes to income and serves as a strong predictor of poverty. In Beaufort County, 28% of people who have not completed high school live below the poverty line. In Jasper County, that number is 25%. With 50,000 households in Beaufort and Jasper Counties not making a living wage, education is more important than ever.
Our education and career development programs help adults acquire the basic skills they need – reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving – to be productive workers, family members, and citizens. At Bluffton Self Help’s four Learning & Literacy Centers, neighbors attend adult education classes, workshops, and trainings, have access to computers and internet to navigate career resources, and connect with local employers. Our neighbors receive the support they need to reach their individualized goals on their path to success.
This fall we will welcome more than 400 adult learners into classes and workshops that are built around their unique needs. Building a curriculum and learning environment for adults means understanding they are working full-time, sometimes two jobs and many are raising a family. The classes at Bluffton Self Help are small, usually no more than 5-10 students. They work together for 16 weeks and by the end, many times are more like family than classmates. All come from different backgrounds, different cultures, and different countries but support each other to reach their goals.
Education at Bluffton Self Help is about more than learning it is about building a support system and safety net. It is about relationships. Each of our adult students and their families have client advocates available to them to help overcome any additional barriers they may face including meeting their basic needs, finding better employment, and navigating the benefits and resources available to them. We walk alongside all our neighbors to ensure they are moving forward to reach their goals.
By providing all learners with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to realize their full potential, we can help create a productive and stable future for our community.
You can help pave the path through education by investing in Bluffton Self Help’s education and career development programs.
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