Bluffton Self Help’s 2023-24 fall semester began this month and welcomed more than 350 adult learners into GED, ESL, Citizenship, and Digital Literacy classes. These classes, along with volunteer tutors, staff, and the community they build within their classes, support these adult learners to improve literacy, gain skills, earn a GED, gain better employment, and reach personal success.
Bluffton Self Help’s ESL (English as a Second Language) courses play a pivotal role in personal success and community progress. For our adult learners, ESL classes provide a pathway to effective communication, enabling them to navigate daily life, pursue educational opportunities, and access better job prospects. Literacy and proficiency in the English language enhance their self-confidence and ability to engage in the community. Additionally, ESL classes foster cognitive skills and critical thinking.
The motivations that drive adult learners to attend classes may vary, yet a recurring sentiment we often encounter is their desire to foster stronger connections within their community. They want to advocate for their children in school, navigate grocery stores effortlessly, communicate effectively with their doctors, and, above all, engage confidently with neighbors, customers, and colleagues. Many of our adult learners are also small business owners, who recognize the significance of clear communication with their clientele to their future success.
Among these diverse motivations, one constant remains: our adult learners are determined to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. They brave rainy bike rides to reach their classes. One particularly inspiring student, who had never driven, obtained a driver’s license to drive herself to class. Some learners share vehicles with family members and friends, enduring hours of waiting time for pickups, while others rely on public transportation, often bound by the schedules of buses. Getting to class is only one of the many barriers these adult learners face, along with busy schedules, working multiple jobs, and raising families.
To support their dedication, Bluffton Self Help invests more than $1,200 per student each year to help them thrive at home, at work, and in the community. We know education is the best investment.
Your investment will open doors to opportunity and help pave the path through education for neighbors and plays a pivotal role in propelling more than 300 students toward their goals. Whether those goals involve securing meaningful employment, earning a GED diploma, or obtaining U.S. citizenship, your generosity ignites these accomplishments. These transformative milestones ripple through generations, fostering economic well-being and nurturing an enriched community for all.
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