Many community-based English language learning programs rely on volunteers to lead classes. While some of these volunteers have some teacher training, the majority are not professional educators. The question of how non-professionals understand what constitutes facilitation of language learning in an adult education context remains underexplored.…

This article describes a 9-month community action project that took the form of an art studio located in a thrift store. The purpose of the project was to creatively reduce clothing fabric waste from unused donations, and also to document the social justice and ecological issues involved in clothing production and distribution. Collaboration with…

This is a story about how a national Canadian environmental education program (Green Street) evolved in unpredictable ways and about the particular twist in the road that led program stakeholders to focus on scaling up in different ways than originally imagined. The "twist" occurred when the program reached the initially perceived…

Describes the Learning Assistance program, which uses student volunteers to staff a study area for college students with physical handicaps. A training program for volunteers was conducted. Both handicapped students and volunteers thought the program was helpful. (JAC)

Traces London, Ontario's community schools from 1968-1984. Describes a system in transition from being centrally controlled by a school board to being increasingly in the control of community volunteers. Reflects on the redevelopment of the community school ideal as responsibility for school operations is placed back in community hands. (BRR)

The guide provides prospective participants with an overview of Katimavik, a 9-month community volunteer service and learning program for 17- to 21-year-olds sponsored since 1977 by the Canadian Government. The guide describes the application process and computerized random selection procedures; work projects, which may range from building…

The introductory volume of the bilingual Katimavik program student manual summarizes the history and purpose of the Katimavik experience; outlines program objectives and learning program subject areas; explains how to use the individual learning activity student manuals, how to create individual and group development plans, and how to develop a…

Canada World Youth enables young Canadians to live in another part of Canada with youths from a developing country for several months while volunteering in community projects. Then they move as a group to the partner country for several months where the program structure is the same. Participants acquire the skills and values necessary to…

Article adapted from an address to the conference of the Canadian Council for Research in Education, January, 1969.

The curriculum development process for two Canadian projects to train inexperienced and untrained language instructors is described. An Alberta program trains volunteer tutors of English as a second language, and a British Columbia program trains teachers of Canadian heritage languages. Both groups have a limited amount of time for training, and…

In a Canadian program, adult volunteer mentors meet with elementary student mentees for an hour each week during school. An evaluation of five such school-based mentoring programs found that mentored students developed a more positive attitude towards school, achieved higher grades, and improved relationships with adults and peers. Mentors report…

Home-Start is an international organization in which volunteers offer regular support, friendship, and practical help to young families under stress in their own homes in order to prevent family crisis and breakdown. It is available to any family with at least one child under 5 years of age. This book presents a snapshot of the day-to-day…

The two main sections of this report describe the general model for the Volunteer Parental Involvement Program and provide the program documentation. The model is accompanied by materials developed for its implementation in in schools. These materials comprise a manual that schools are employing in developing their own Parental Assistance…

This issue of the Canadian quarterly "Transitions," in French and English language versions, examines the prevention of youth crime, with a specific focus on activities, trends, and research dealing with Canadian families. Major articles in this issue are: (1) "A Snowball's Chance? Communities and Families Working to Prevent Youth…

This manual for volunteer teachers from Canada traveling to the West Indies to assist host governments with improving their teachers' skills describes the organization sponsoring the teachers, the nature of the volunteers' duties, and practical aspects of the stay abroad. Two opening sections describe the Organization for Cooperation in Overseas…