United for Literacy

United for Literacy is a registered charitable institution and one of the oldest literacy organizations in Canada. 2024 officially marks the 125th anniversary of United for Literacy, formerly Frontier College. United for Literacy has been delivering literacy programs to people in communities across Canada since 1899. We started by hosting reading camps equipped with books and volunteers to teach people in remote locations.

Today, we offer a variety of programs all over the country. Our founder’s approach was “every place is a learning place,” which established how education and basic literacy was taught throughout Canada.

If interested in volunteering in Scarborough, please complete this interest form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aGhfi3rRi0SrH1aP1WhycR5yqBVdDcVProcd5cVpMiVUNzgwTTBJVEFYSzdFNzJCTVZBNlVKRjhLSyQlQCN0PWcu

If interested in volunteering in Downtown Toronto, please complete this interest form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aGhfi3rRi0SrH1aP1WhycZADtXXblpdKib1ZzI0m_0JUNDVGQUQ2RE9UUVROOTU1VUxPTlowRVgzRC4u

If you experience any issues, have questions or do not hear back, feel free to contact our Toronto Program Support Staff, Chanelle Mendes, at cmendes@unitedforliteracy.ca . Thank you for your interest!

United for Literacy is currently looking for Volunteer Tutors to volunteer in our Downtown Toronto and Scarborough children’s and youth programming. Many of our in person programs are afterschool homework clubs or reading circles and we are looking for volunteers who are able to commit two hours at the same community site each week.

Our rigorous intake process promotes the safety of learners and volunteers in our programs. Volunteer applicants will be interviewed and trained virtually and United for Literacy will cover the cost of a background check for each volunteer.

We accept volunteers over the age of 16 (volunteers under the age of 18 may have additional steps in the volunteer intake process).