Word of Sage Youth’s efficient, effective, and inexpensive programs spread through Ontario’s network of school boards and community service agencies. Then, organizations from across the country, and later across the world, began requesting that we share our expertise. Sage Youth staff became de facto consultants as school boards and other NGOs developed or improved their own literacy programs. Therefore, in 2002, Sage Youth created a division called the Excellence in Literacy Foundation (ELF).
To enable the successful replication of this program, Sage Youth and ELF staff and volunteers wrote a series of 19 workbooks, a Program Model, and several training booklets. Supported by tested materials and greeted by organizations eager to consult our expertise, the ELF has provided training, educational workbooks, and small grants to 110 community organizations and schools across Canada. ELF supported programs have served over 15 000 children, predominantly from First Nations, new Canadian, and low-income communities. Outstanding volunteers have taken our program method and materials with them to orphanages in Ghana, Lesotho and Thailand.
Thanks to the vision of our directors and the passion of our community partners, the ELF has been operating as an independent, sister charity of Sage Youth since 2005.
For information on training, materials and grants for children’s literacy initiatives, please go to www.excellenceinliteracy.org.