Clothilde
From the priority area Training & Education for Jobs

Clothilde Mukawera, her husband and their two little girls arrived in Southeastern Connecticut four years ago. A local church helped them escape a volatile environment in Rwanda and subsequently found the family a place to call home. Although Clothilde worked at the church part-time, she desperately wanted to better speak and understand English so that she could get a job to help support her family. A friend referred her to Literacy Volunteers, a United Way partner program.

Clothilde was matched with volunteer tutor Suzie Canning who had a knowledge of French, Clothilde's secondary language. Because Clothilde had no transportation or child care, Suzie would drive to Clothilde's home for the tutoring sessions. The job of the tutor is to help the student articulate their goals and then create a learning experience that propels and sustains the student on the journey to the goal by dividing the trip into manageable units. The tutor and the student reassess and modify the program as the student's development and circumstances change, which often happens with the acquisition of language.

Because Clothilde's main goal was to learn English to get a job, tutoring began with that premise. However, survival skills were also required. Suzie helped Clothilde with grocery shopping, calling the doctor's office, filling prescriptions, and talking to her daughter's teachers. As Clothilde learned these skills and acquired the vocabulary for everyday living, her confidence grew along with her conversational ability.

When Clothilde wanted to learn to drive, the focus shifted. Suzie and Clothilde reviewed every word on every page of the driver's manual multiple times. They drew pictures and used small cars to create scenarios. They improvised conversations and studied the engine of a car. Suzie even went so far as to set up chairs in her driveway to give Clothilde practice in parking.

After passing her driver's exam, Clothilde's concentration moved back to getting a full-time job. By this time, she had moved up a full level in her knowledge of English according to Literacy Volunteers' measures. She enrolled at a program that matched her needs toward becoming a Certified Nurses Aide and after an intense period of study, Clothilde interned at a local nursing facility. After passing the State exam Clothilde was hired full-time while continuing her job at the church.

Clothilde now hopes to earn her GED and attend college. She is sometimes tired but very proud of her accomplishments. It is a far cry from her previous life in Rwanda where no one had ever even owned a car. She is especially thankful to her tutor Suzie Canning and Literacy Volunteers for helping her reach her goals and set new ones.