Family literacy program helps to improve a mother's life

   Four years ago, Rosalinda enrolled herself in the Spanish Literacy Program through El Centro Hispano's FAMOSA (Families Working, Sustaining and Advancing). El Centro Hispano is a community-based organization that is dedicated to strengthening and improving the quality of life of Latinos in the Durham area by providing Spanish-speaking families with referrals to community resources, ESL classes, parent support and family literacy activities. Rosalinda credits her successes to the programs offered at FAMOSA, a program funded by Durham’s Partnership for Children.

   As Rosalinda took literacy classes, her daughter, who was not in child care, had a chance to socialize with other children and their families at FAMOSA. Rosalinda’s daughter was one and a half at the time she entered the program.

   Just like her mother, the toddler thrived in the program as she was able to learn and play with other children in a group setting. Her daughter participated in FAMOSA’s child enrichment program until she started school.

   Once she started school, Rosalinda said she was noticeably ahead of the students in her class. Her little girl had early literacy exposure and easily adapted to a kindergarten setting, learning to speak English quickly as the program at FAMOSA helped her develop her speech and writing skills.

   The program has also supported the growth of Rosalinda’s relationship with her daughter. By learning English, today Rosalinda is able to help her daughter with her schoolwork when needed and they both enjoy spending the extra time together. Now Rosalinda’s daughter is in second grade and is performing well.

   Her teachers say that she is one of the best students in the class and is a model student for all her classmates. Before starting the program, Rosalinda was unable to read and write in Spanish. Rosalinda questioned the program and doubted her own abilities, at first. However, with the help of the teachers and staff at El Centro, Rosalinda began to thrive in the program.

   In particular, Rosalinda cites her teacher Mrs. Fanny as her main support throughout the program. “Mrs. Fanny is such a great person and I am very thankful to her,” says Rosalinda.

   Rosalinda graduated from the literacy program at FAMOSA in 2007. Upon graduating, she received her diploma for her completion of secondary school. This diploma is equivalent to a high school diploma received in the US as well as that from her native country of Mexico.

   Her experience in FAMOSA has given her the encouragement to complete the six English classes offered at Durham Technical Community College. Also, Rosalinda recently enrolled in cosmetology school at Durham Tech and is on track to graduate in May of 2009. As Rosalinda exclaims, “FAMOSA’s Spanish Literacy program gave me the opportunity to better my life and the life of my daughter!"