Improving Computer Literacy Skills for New Job Opportunities
Charita Deaza was referred to Skyline Literacy through the Goodwill Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a program to help unemployed individuals 55 and older find work. Nelly worked diligently to get her into a program called Computers: One Click at a Time. She completed the curriculum in about five weeks with an intern named Matt, who specialized in technology. She really like the one-on-one in-person tutoring that Skyline offered and was grateful for his patience and knowledge about computers.
Charita shared, “I wanted to better myself with computer skills. I have been out of the workforce for a year, and I knew that I needed better computer skills for the job I applied for.” With this curriculum, she was able to learn basic and intermediate computer skills that would make her competitive in the workplace. She appreciated the material, as it carefully explained how to use the internet, email, and Microsoft office platforms, and she was grateful that she could keep the book for whenever she wanted to look back over the material. Skyline Literacy also provided her with a borrowed laptop, so that she could complete her studies and practice computer literacy skills.
With her new computer skills, Charita not only has marketable skills for new job opportunities but can also help her grandchildren with their homework: “I am able to help him with the computer skills that I learned at Skyline.” She is excited to be able to connect with her grandchildren on a different level and help them when they need it. Charita highly recommends this computer literacy course to anyone who is looking to improve or refresh their computer skills. “Skyline Literacy went above and beyond in helping me with this computer course and I am so thankful,” Charita said.
Customizing Individual GED Tutoring
Mary Hama came to the U.S. from Kurdistan with her husband in 2009 and currently resides in Harrisonburg, VA. She heard about Skyline Literacy from her friend, Hozyar, who also utilized Skyline’s learning services. Mary was connected with a personalized tutor, Leah Tripp, to study for the English component of the GED test. She had previously taken GED classes at Massanutten Technical Center. This co-enrollment with Skyline Literacy and MTC allowed her to pass the GED test. Her goal is to go to Blueridge Community College for a bachelor’s degree.
The best aspect of Skyline Literacy for Mary was the personalization sessions with a one-on-one tutor: “It was very good because when you are at Skyline you can have a personal tutor. They just focus on you and not the class as a whole. English is difficult for me, and I had many questions in the reading and writing parts. The personalized time, even for one hour a week, is very helpful.” She was very grateful for the time and dedication of her tutor, Leah Tripp who was very friendly, and helpful with all her questions. With Leah’s help, Mary was able to raise her exam scores significantly.
Mary recommends Skyline for those who need a one-on-one tutor in any subject. The staff at Skyline is able to connect students with volunteer tutors and retired educators, who have dedicated their time and energy to the success of adult students in Harrisonburg, VA. She will use Skyline in the future if she has any tutoring needs during college.
Skyline Literacy has allowed Mary to further her educational goals in her life, which in turn has affected her family’s educational successes. “I have two kids and a husband who is self-employed. I am the one taking care of the children and they need me to help them with their homework. I can do this now after taking the GED courses with MTC and Skyline”, she shares. “I can also get a better job and further my education. I just want to say thank you to Skyline for your help.”
If you or someone you know is in need of one-on-one tutoring services on any subject, please contact Skyline at 540-433-0505 or email info@skylineliteracy.org.
Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Yousif Kori, citizenship student at Skyline Literacy
Yousif Kori moved with his family to Harrisonburg from Sudan in 2016 and works at Smithland School as the head custodian. He began taking English classes at Massanutten Technical Center before coming to Skyline Literacy to take a citizenship preparation course. Yousif heard about Skyline from a relative who has lived in the area for a while, and he decided to obtain his U.S. citizenship so that he could travel back to Sudan and make other life processes easier in the U.S.
Yousif appreciated the citizenship preparation class because the teachers would explain a lot of the concepts and words that he could not understand on his own or learning from YouTube. With the help of volunteer instructors, he was able to understand the national government as well as the specifics of the Virginian government and officials. “The material provided by Skyline gave me a good understanding of how the citizenship test would be”, he says. Yousif also appreciated the kindness and explanations that the volunteer instructors provided. He is now encouraging his wife to take the citizenship preparation with Skyline.
While Yousif could not always make it to every class because of his work in the evening, he was grateful for the flexibility and online features that Skyline provided. He officially became a U.S. citizen on June 4th after taking the citizenship preparation class at Skyline, passing the citizenship test with USCIS, and taking the oath during the naturalization ceremony. “I believe that it is very important to become a U.S. citizen because I live here now”, he says; “I would just like to thank Skyline Literacy – I know a lot of people who cannot read nor understand the U.S. citizenship process, and Skyline helps you do that.” In the future, Yousif plans to continue taking high-level English classes at Massanutten Technical Center, an educational partner of Skyline Literacy.
The Gratification of Education
Christal Reedy, a native of Rockingham County, is the Tutor and Literacy Programs Manager at Skyline Literacy since September of 2020. She has been an educator for her entire career after graduating from Eastern Mennonite University undergraduate and master’s graduate programs, as well as recently acquiring an Education Specialist degree from Liberty University. She has taught high school Spanish, ESL, and special education for over 20 years. While she loves being an educator, she wanted an administrative role, which is why she accepted the position at Skyline Literacy, which allows her to combine her love for teaching with educational administration.
The first thing that stood out to Christal at Skyline Literacy was the kind and caring staff who worked with the adult learners of the Harrisonburg and Rockingham communities. She was amazed by the dedication of some of the volunteer educators who have been with Skyline for more than 5 years. “The dedication of long-term tutors is essential to the success of our programs”, Christal says. She loves seeing the relationships built between the tutors and students, as well as the improvement of literacy rates: “It is thrilling to be part of a successful educational program like Skyline”. She believes that people can learn, no matter what age or demographic.
The gratification of Christal’s job is what brings her to work every day. She loves seeing the success of students who have passed their U.S. citizenship test, improved their literacy levels, or are working to reach their educational potential. “The feedback and gratitude are the best part of my job”, Christal states. She goes on to say, “How rewarding it is to give back to the community, helping people improve literacy, which gives them the skills to be able to read to their children, engage in community and civic events, and be active in the workplace.” The basic tasks of daily living, that we so often take for granted, like going to a doctor’s appointment or completing a banking transaction, can be very challenging for someone who does not speak, write, or read the English language.
Skyline’s staff works tirelessly to provide customizable programs for their students in a variety of subjects featured in their programs. Christal was amazed by the supportive volunteer tutors and the students’ willingness to learn. Skyline redefines the traditional classroom by providing daytime and evening classes, online- and in-person classes, flexible scheduling for one-on-one tutoring, and a needs-based priority of the students. This allows for tutors and students to meet together amidst their busy lives. Christal reflects on the situation, “Many of Skyline’s students have many children and multiple jobs, so flexibility is key to their success in learning”. She encourages tutors to be flexible and dedicated to the students who want to learn, but do not always have the time or resources.
Christal says that the most challenging part of her job is maintaining student and volunteer retention rates, despite the flexibility that Skyline offers. Many people want to give their time or take time to be educated, but do not follow through with it. Nevertheless, Christal works persistently to encourage students and educators to take time for learning by adapting personalized strategies and opportunities for students and educators alike. She concludes by quoting James Matthew Barrie, “Those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves.”
If you are interested in volunteering with Skyline Literacy, please reach out to Christal Reedy at creedy@skylineliteracy.org or by calling 540-433-0505. “We are always in need of volunteers, and it is a very gratifying experience for all involved! We are happy to place you where you are needed that will fit your strengths, while also benefiting our students. Thank you!” – Christal Reedy
2022 Awards Ceremony
Thank you to all our staff, volunteers, and students who came out to our Awards Ceremony on May 13, 2022. During our Awards Ceremony, we celebrate the success of all our students who have completed our programs and those who have become U.S. citizens. We also award all the volunteer tutors who have dedicated their time and energy to teaching these students.
Semhar Salomon: Featured Student of the Month
Expanding Access to Education
When Jyar Abdulla graduated with her B.A. in international affairs in 2018, she knew two things: she loved working with immigrants, and she placed a high value on education. A few months later, in the summer of 2019, Abdulla found an opportunity that brought together these two passions-- a job as the program manager for Skyline Literacy.
Abdulla’s job with Skyline is relational and student focused. She is often the person getting students plugged in with classes, helping them navigate potential obstacles for attendance and retention, and touching base with students to hear how classes are going.
When asked why Skyline works for students, Abdulla cites the programs versatility as a major factor in its success. “We offer classes online and in-person, so we can really help students who may not be able to make the in-person class work with their situation or schedule.” It is this versatility that has led to students from all over the country to sign up for Skyline’s online citizenship class. “I’ve had students from Florida and Michigan contact me for our citizenship classes” Abdulla says. “We know the need is there, because we have these students signing up."
“The hardest part of my job is keeping retention in classes…sometimes I cannot help with the obstacle the student is facing. I can’t change their job schedule, or provide childcare, or get them the transportation they need.” For the greater Harrisonburg & Rockingham community, Abdulla says that the work Skyline does matters because communities are like systems; if one part is struggling or needs help, then the whole system is impacted.
“We should care because our learners are part of this community, and we should all help so our community can be better. For example, if someone at your workplace, someone at Cargill, is struggling with their English and cannot read a sign, then it’s not only dangerous for them, but dangerous for everyone on the production line. So, if we are able to help our neighbors, we are in a way, helping ourselves and our city.”
Despite some of the difficulties and obstacles, Abdulla says that her favorite part of her job is watching a student reach their goal. “For example, when a student becomes a citizen, they almost always call me right after they pass. It makes me so happy, because we’ve worked hard to provide one-on-one tutoring or a class for them, and they’ve also put in the work and time to make this happen. So, it’s just really exciting for everyone.”
Creating Community in “The Friendly City"
A few years ago, Julie Logan found herself on the Skyline Literacy website. Logan had been searching for a way to be more involved in the volunteer community within Harrisonburg, and after signing up for tutor training sessions, she began her journey with Skyline as a level 1 tutor alongside her team teacher, Bill Reinhold. In addition to the joy she gets from teaching students, Logan says that teaching with Reinhold has been an extremely rewarding experience as she’s gotten to observe how his dedication and background knowledge has enriched the learning environment.
Logan’s favorite part about teaching is simple-- getting to know her students. “As the students’ ability to speak English increases, they are willing to share aspects of their lives,” she says. Logan says that watching the motivation and progress of her students over the course of the year is impressive and exciting to see. The COVID-19 pandemic has made Logan miss seeing her students in person and getting to know them face-to-face. “I miss the personal interaction that can be had in a classroom setting” she adds.
While Logan is a teacher for Skyline, she admits that she has also been a student in many regards as well. “I have learned a lot about the community of Harrisonburg by working with Skyline. Our community welcomes people from many different countries who speak a variety of languages.” Logan says that meeting and connecting with her students has taught her more about Harrisonburg, but also about other cultures and communities.
Logan notes that organizations like Skyline Literacy help “the friendly city” of Harrisonburg become a stronger, more welcoming community. “Skyline Literacy helps folks by connecting them with steps to feel belonging to their own homes.” Logan encourages fellow Harrisonburg residents to support their local immigrant communities by investing in organizations like Skyline. “Helping people acquire a basic level of communication is the first step to citizenship,” Logan says, adding that Skyline Literacy is an integral part of making that first step possible.
Opportunities to Learn: Adam Bashir
When Adam Bashir and his wife moved to the U.S. 5 years ago, they were living and working in Nebraska. While dealing with the business of everyday life, they were also attempting to adjust to their new home by trying to improve their English skills and learn more about the citizenship process.
Ashir says they decided to make the move to Harrisonburg after a friend reached out and told the Bashir’s about the opportunities in the city-- specifically opportunities with organizations like Skyline Literacy.
“My friend told me about Skyline about two years ago. When we moved to Harrisonburg, my wife started with Skyline, and then later, I started going too.” Adam says Skyline’s programs have been very helpful for him and his wife as they continue to live, work, and raise their family in Harrisonburg. In addition to learning English, Adam says the citizenship courses offered by Skyline are also helping him learn more about reading, writing, and U.S. history.
While attending Skyline classes has helped with gaining knowledge, Adam and his wife also view the classes as a long-term investment in their future in Harrisonburg and the U.S.
“My dream for the next 5 years is to get a good job, have my own home, and stay here in Harrisonburg, because there are so many great opportunities for me and my family here” Adam says.
“I feel so comfortable. I feel like I learn a lot. That’s important to me. I’m still learning English, so the teachers are so helpful, because they answer my questions and give me more than I need and ask for.” ”