Projects > LESIA (Literacy and Essential Skills in Industrial Arts)

Literacy and Essential Skills in Industrial Arts (L.E.S.I.A.)

As part of our ongoing work to promote innovative literacy and workplace essential skills (WES) programmes and supports, LOCS is proud to announce the L.E.S.I.A. Initiative.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES). With $ 311, 925 in funding, the L.E.S.I.A.initiative is a curriculum development project that will result in five sets of course material being developed and distributed across Canada. As of April 2009, we are at the halfway point of a two-year funding contract that will end in March of 2010.

Who Will Benefit

Aimed at those adults entering the workforce for the first time and those already employed but who would benefit from essential skills enhancement; the L.E.S.I.A. initiative is unique in that it will utilize “industrial arts”-type courses to teach workplace essential skills to those who may not otherwise take part in traditional literacy and WES programmes.

However, various community and workplace oriented organizations and employers will benefit, as they will have “ready-to-deliver” course materials at hand to offer with very little set-up required. The courses are designed to be adaptable and deliverable in a community of any size, anywhere provided they have an arts instructor available.

Types of Courses Developed

We are developing five sets of different “industrial arts”-type courses that, at this point, include stained glass, tile mosaics, blacksmithing…etc. Other courses being considered for development can include bronze casting, welding, jewellery-making…etc.

Each course is developed as collaboration between an industrial arts instructor and a trained essential skills writer.

Demonstration Courses

Once a draft of the material is completed, the course is demonstrated with a local group of adult students with an aim to be as inclusive as possible.

Student groups include older adults working or recently out of the workforce, young at-risk adults entering the workforce for the first time, recently laid off employees…etc. With the input received from the students, each set of course material is further refined to make it as relevant as possible to the several hundred organizations it is anticipated will use the material once complete.

Promotion and Distribution

As part of our grant commitment we are promoting the L.E.S.I.A. project across the country and are on the look out for any appropriate venues or events (conferences, training events, workshops…etc) that would be appropriate.

If you are an employer or human resource staff looking for workplace skills building opportunities, a literacy organization looking for different, interesting programme ideas or a community based social service organization interested in general skills enhancement course material; give us a call.

Moreover, the best thing about this project…..is that it is free! Once the material is completed, it will be made available on the LOCS website and to any organizations or groups that would like it.

Contact Information: If you have any questions about the L.E.S.I.A. initiative please contact the Executive Director or L.E.S.I.A. Project Coordinator at 705-743-8331.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES).