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VITA Tutor Bob Chaney visited with the Afanou family after the recent VITA Recognition Banquet. Chaney tutored three member of the family after they arrived in Lafayette from Togo. Pictured are (left to right) Laurent Afanou, Bob Chaney, Nestor, Marie, and Melanie Afanou.
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VITA Student Expresses his Appreciation
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Less than a year ago three new students entered the VITA program. They were refugees from Togo. Parents Laurent and Melanie Afanou and their son Nestor were natives of the small French-speaking country in Western Africa. Laurent and Nestor spoke some English and had attended a Togolese university, but Melanie spoke only French. All had jobs in Lafayette.
VITA Bob Chaney had previously tutored several ESL (English as a Second Language) students and spoke some French. He accepted the Afanou family as students and they began their lessons. Within a few months, they had progressed through much of the material. This fall Laurent and Nestor were accepted as students at U.L.L.
An excerpt from a letter written by Laurent Afanou is printed below.
With great pleasure I received the happy birthday card you forwarded to me last month. I appreciate the great and cordial attention you always pay to my modest person.
Thanks for your best you have been doing as volunteer instructors teaching English to adults.
I profit by this opportunity to express, in the names of my spouse and of my son, and in my own name, through your honorable staff to Mr. Bob Chaney Robert, and his spouse Mrs. Bob Chaney Marie, our sincere gratitude and thanks for the great effort they have been doing since February 2007, tutoring and helping us the learn English, in this shelter country we have been living as refugees coming from a French speaking country.
God bless you and all the volunteers at VITA.
Thanks for the invitation cards to the VITA Annual Recognition Banquet. We hope well meet with a great pleasure on that day.
Nice to correspond with you!
Sincerely,
Mr. Afanou Koumai (Laurent)
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Snack and Learn Comes to VITA
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The LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service will offer a free educational program on nutrition, diet, and health to VITA students. A curriculum of 15 lessons is offered on Tuesdays from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. starting November 6.
The students will learn how to eat better for less, plan meals and shop wisely, prepare the foods they love in a healthy way, and eat and exercise for better health. Each week they will sample healthy food choices, get free recipes and shopping tips, and bring nutrition information home.
If your student might be interested in joining the weekly program, have him/her call VITA at 234-4600.
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Annual Multicultural Festival Benefited VITA
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The 4th Annual Multicultural Festival was sponsored recently by Glouchester Manor and Mimosa Place and included a fundraiser to benefit VITA. Various cultures were represented at the festival through music, food, arts and crafts. A Jump-A-Thon and B-Ball-A-Thon raised funds for a VITA donation. Glouchester Manor will continue its fundraising for our program through the end of the year.
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VITA ESL Teacher Betty Haynes (left) accepted a check for the program from Ashley Phillips, office manager of Glouchester Manor in Lafayette. The funds were raised at the 4th Annual Multicultural Festival.
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VITA Welcomes New Tutors
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Joseph Dupuy
Barbara Hackworth
Roy Hunt
Karen Jeffers
Patricia Irons
Gail LaGarde
Megan Landry
Trudy Landry
Amber Lessard
Marilyn Sottarelli
Thomas Toler
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VITA Training Seminar Schedule
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VITA training seminars are tentatively planned this year. The following seminar is scheduled in the VITA Training Room on the fourth floor of Whitney Bank in Lafayette.
Dates and Times
Thursday, January 17, 5-7 p.m. and
Saturday, January 19, 9-12 a.m.
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