The WISH Learning Centre is operated in partnership with Capilano College. The instructors use adult learning techniques to encourage participation through the use of different media and open discussion groups. There is a focus on expression through creative activities.

This program is designed to provide women with the tools:

To increase communication skills

To become engaged in community affairs

To develop the ability to self-advocate

To work toward stabilizing their lives

Here, the women:

Learn computer skills

Borrow books

Write letters, journals, and poetry

Engage in arts and crafts

The facilitators also provide tutoring for those who are working to upgrade their education.

From their experiences at WISH, the program developers, in collaboration with the women who come to the Learning Centre at WISH, have produced a book called Literacy for Women on the Street and also have developed a curriculum that will be the basis for future programming for this and other programs working with survival sex workers. Dream Soup and Life Stew can be found at http://www.nald.ca/library/learning/dreamsoup/dreamsoup.pdf

Funding is provided by Capilano College, The National Literacy Secretariat, the Minerva Foundation, and Women's Interchurch Council of Canada.

We are very proud of the two wonderful books of poetry that have already been published through the efforts of this program.

The participants in the literacy program also publish a monthly newsletter in which they include poems, art work, commentary on recent events and announcemnts.

From the Literacy Program has grown a project funded by Status of Women Canada called Emerging Voices.  This program is for women who are interested in participating more fully in the governance of WISH and who want to participate in other organizations.  There are a group of dedicated women who registered for the program in the Fall of 2005 and who continue to develop their skills in communication, meeting participation and facilitation and process.