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Estevan Area Literacy Group keeps educating the community under new leadership

The Estevan Area Literacy Group (EALG) has moved forward with a new person in charge, some additional programs and a new home. Grace Caputo became the new literacy co-ordinator for the Estevan Area Literacy Group in July 2020.
Grace Caputo
Grace Caputo is the new literacy co-ordinator in Estevan. Photo submitted

The Estevan Area Literacy Group (EALG) has moved forward with a new person in charge, some additional programs and a new home.

Grace Caputo became the new literacy co-ordinator for the Estevan Area Literacy Group in July 2020. She continued with existing programs and also is bringing in new projects.

Many programs had to be adjusted to comply with new realities, but Caputo said that so far it's been "fantastic."

"I'm learning a lot of new things. I'm only one person, so I get to learn a lot of new things. I got to meet some nice people, some nice families and children. It's been really good," Caputo said.

Caputo moved to Estevan from Thunder Bay, Ont., in June 2020. A developmental service worker, she retired after over 30 years of working with people with disabilities and in the mental health sector. Caputo moved to Estevan following her fiancée, and they are planning on getting married once the COVID restrictions are lifted. 

Once in the Energy City, Caputo wanted to expand her education and also was looking for a job that would help her to get to know the community. The literacy co-ordinator position that came around at that time suited her goals. After years of working strictly with adults, Caputo said that working with kids feels "refreshing."

"It's different and I like the difference ... Children have such a young and energetic perspective in life. And they are happy … They are just great people to work with. And I love the teaching aspect of it, so I really enjoy it," Caputo said. 

All the EALG programs are currently running in a virtual format. They are still running a Virtual Book Bingo with a few more sessions left on March 8 and 22, Family Fun Night on the last Thursday of every month and a Creative Crafters program, in which Caputo posts crafting videos on their Facebook page once a week for participants to try it out at their leisure time.

The Virtual Worm Book Club just came to an end on March 2. The EALG wasn't able to hold their annual Battle of the Books with local school students this year due to the existing public safety health measures.

"It was really disappointing because it was really popular. But we hope to start it again next year," Caputo said.

The EALG partnered up with the Souris Valley Museum and together they will be running a number of programs this spring. The one-day programs will take place on March 26 and April 22 at the museum.

The EALG also plans to continue with their Nature Smart program starting in July. So far, the plan is to be virtual, but if the restrictions are lifted, they may run it in-person.

"We are trying to keep going and offering (kids our programs) just to give them something else to do besides school, some education and literacy fun," Caputo said.

With all programs running virtually at this time, the participation still has been pretty good. Caputo believes once they come back to the in-person format, they will have more students joining the different activities.

The EALG has also recently launched a fundraiser through Indigo.

"From any kind of purchase of a gift card or any home décor products, a percentage goes to the Estevan literacy group. It just helps us out with programming and keeping programs going," Caputo said.

To participate people can follow the indigofundraising.flipgive.com/f/1458078 link.

The EALG also moved from the Estevan Public Library and is now located at the Estevan Comprehensive School.

They can be reached through the Estevan Area Literacy Group Facebook page, as well as through their website at estevanliteracy.weebly.com and over the phone at (306)634-4711.