Wisconsin Literacy

Martin's Story

I studied English and German literature in college and graduate school, during which time I earned some of my tuition by working as a theater stagehand. Today, I work in the business of Internet and network security. I became involved with Literacy Network in the summer of 2000 when I decided to find a volunteer activity to make more out of my days. I was immediately paired up with Jolma, and we worked together for about five years.

At first, I spent a good deal of time working with Jolma, as much as eight hours a week. After the first year, we encountered the word 'loyalty' and when I explained the concept to her, it was clear that she understood it. Because of the way she dwelled on the word and said, "I really like that word," I knew this was an important word for her. I believe that in order for the tutor/learner relationship to be successful, the learner needs to be motivated and willing to trust, and the tutor needs to be reliable and worthy of that trust. Today, Jolma and I are good friends, and we aren't afraid to tease each other. We have learned a great deal from each other, everything from cultural literacy to how to make Tibetan dumplings. She's even taught me things about graphic design and animation!

Supporting everyone in our community is an important element in our collective social contract. When someone develops literacy and gains social fluency, that person can become productive and give back to society.