Help us Make a Difference
With the help of our volunteers, donors and community partners, in the 2024-2025 school year ONE TO ONE programs supported BC students through in-person and virtual programs, impacting:
SCHOOLS
TUTORS
STUDENTS
PARENTS
ONE TO ONE began its one-on-one literacy tutoring program in 1989, and serves children and families across British Columbia.
The Case for Literacy
A child’s literacy journey starts early – before they begin kindergarten – and continues throughout their lives. 75% of children who do not overcome reading difficulty by the 4th grade continue to struggle throughout their schooling. That’s why most of the students we help are in the grade 1 – 3 range.
Although Canada is a developed country with a highly educated population, low literacy is still an ongoing challenge we face. Over 1 million children in Canada need stronger literacy skills – a number that continues to grow through the COVID-19 pandemic (Children’s Literacy).
There is no better indicator of future well-being than literacy – possessing a high level of literacy sets a child up for future academic, social and economic success. Through literacy, children gain the skills they need to thrive in life.
Literacy difficulties are also more common in children from low socio-economic backgrounds and are significantly associated with increased rates of ADHD, conduct and anxiety disorders (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry).
Learn more about how ONE TO ONE helps emerging young readers develop their literacy skills by taking a look at our programs.
Reading Is Empowerment
There are 50,300 elementary school students in BC who struggle with low literacy. That’s one in every 11 school children.
Research shows that a child’s reading level at the end of Grade 3 is a more accurate predictor of school success than any other variable, including family income, educational attainment of parents, ethnic or cultural identity, or home language. Our approach is to initiate critical early intervention into the lives of struggling readers.
Boosting literacy means boosting a child’s chance of success in school and in life in the following critical areas.
EMPLOYMENT
Strong literacy skills are positively associated with better employment opportunities and higher lifetime earnings.
HEALTH
Higher literacy rates are linked to higher health literacy, which result in better health outcomes in adulthood.
CONNECTION
Reading together strengthens relationships and builds a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-confidence in budding young readers.
SELF-RELIANCE
Reading skills are a key component in the development of reasoning and problem solving.