How Canada helps vulnerable citizens
Social workers for those in need.
We often write about how life in Canada: salaries, news, incidents, statistics. However, we cannot ignore the fact that a certain percentage of people live in very cramped conditions, some do not have enough to have a full meal, some live on the streets.
Although statistics are sometimes discouraging, there are many activists among Canadian citizens who volunteer to help those who are in such need.
Lack of literacy
Among the problems highlighted by experts are several that are particularly serious. Those are homelessness, illiteracy or lack of literacy, and poverty.
Melanie Valcin, the president and CEO of United for Literacy, an organization that aims to improve Canadians’ understanding of written language, believes “we have a big problem when it comes to literacy rates in this country.”
"We see how literacy changes everything, and how people who are struggling with literacy are really left behind. We have one Canadian out of five who is struggling, for an example, to read the prescription on a bottle of medicine, or is struggling to navigate the health system, or is struggling to vote," says Valcin.
What are the reasons for the lack of literacy skills? Not everyone graduates from high school and some do not receive a high school education. How can someone, who has trouble reading and writing, easily navigate in today's world? You even have to fill out forms to apply for a job.
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