Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Inc.

Imagine if you could not read a teacher’s note about your child’s school performance. Picture yourself trying to decipher medicine labels, and struggling to tell the difference between Aspirin and Children’s Aspirin. Envision maneuvering a place as large as Northern Virginia without knowing how to read a bus schedule or Metro map. These simple tasks are immense challenges for someone who is illiterate.

Literacy is a survival skill. The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia serves adults learning the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English. By empowering individuals with the gift of literacy, LCNV opens pathways that enable them to become more independent, confident, and active in their communities. Literacy makes it possible for someone to secure a better job, complete their GED, help a child with his/her homework, and fulfill the dream of becoming a citizen. Ultimately, literacy allows learners to build more rewarding lives.

Every year, LCNV serves nearly 1,500 adults who strive to develop the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English to empower them to participate more fully and confidently in their communities. Your donation will help fund expenses for the upcoming semester, such as books, scholarships, and class supplies. Thank you for your support helping beginning-level adult learners gain essential English language and literacy skills.

 

Literacy has empowered these LCNV students:

 

"Learning English has given me so many opportunities I did not have before -- the freedom to drive around with confidence beyond my neighborhood, the courage to try hobbies and activities to do and the language that I need in this country to get a job as an EMT. Having a better understanding of English, being able to speak, read and write better has expanded my world." 

 

- Hetty, LCNV Student

"My life now is very different. I can speak English, I can read, and I can write well too. I also have my driver’s license and my citizenship. I am also an assistant teacher at [a private school]. I help my lead teacher in the classroom, we have a twenty students in our class. Now I go to night classes after my work to improve even more on my English. My goal is to get my G.E.D one day so I can have an easy and better life.  Because of Literacy Council, my life has changed in many ways ... "

 

-Zheela, LCNV Student

"Now that my reading and writing have improved, I'm able to help my daughter with her homework. I can also read newspapers, magazines, and books on my own. Because of my learning, now I have more confidence in myself."

 

-Salma, LCNV Student

"This is where my life began. When I first started this class in basic literacy, I did not know how to read or write. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to learn how to read. From that day to now I have achieved a lot. I now have a song playing on the internet radio. That was one of my dreams. I am happy reading and writing for the first time. I am so proud of myself! I now have 2000 fans on good feedback and am working on a new song. When I first started this class, I had no clue that I would reach this far. I must say thank you so much. I have no regrets. This is where my life began."

 

-Gosnel, LCNV Student