Uma Sivakumar became our new Office Manager in November.
In just two months working as the Office Manager, I’ve already had plenty of great experiences with the NWT Literacy Council, starting with a warm welcome from board members and staff last November.
This job allows me to connect with a large number of educators who are all interested in literacy and youth education. So far I’ve especially enjoyed the people - everyone has been supportive and encouraging. I enjoy answering phone calls and communicating with people from various northern communities.
My first encounter with the NWT Literacy Council was several years ago in a training course when I worked in the family literacy field. I encourage everyone to take the Council’s training because their workshops are educational and fun. Since working here I’ve learned that the Council does much more than family literacy. It works to improve literacy and essential skills opportunities for youth and adults as well as for families. It is an important support and resource for all literacy practitioners in the NWT.
I like to encourage reading among my own children because I believe it’s a great way to develop their minds. Reading helps us learn new things from the newspaper, magazines, novels, comics and reports. It’s how we can keep up with what happens in our community and our world.
Literacy impacts an individual’s ability to participate in society and to understand important public issues. Literacy is the ability to read, view, write, design, speak and listen in a way that allows us to communicate effectively. The power of literacy lies not just in the ability to read and write, but rather in a person’s capacity to apply these skills to effectively connect, interpret and recognize the complexity of the world in which they live.
Literacy plays an important role in my and my family’s lives. Literacy and essential skills helped us have the confidence to seek a new life and succeed in Canada and Yellowknife.
This job is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my passion for literacy with others.
-- Uma Sivakumar
