3150 N.
Masher St., #100
Philadelphia, PA 19133
Neighborhood: North Philadelphia
Learners: Mostly Spanish-speaking learners; exclusively seniors
Type of Instruction: Small group, mixed-level tutoring
Site Supervision: Project Coordinator and staff
Schedule: Mondays through Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Description: Project AYUDA was developed to support Latino seniors getting into the workforce. It is funded by the Department of Labor, provides job training and English classes to seniors (SHINE tutors provide the language instruction), and places them in jobs around the community. Tutors should be prepared to work with small, multi-level groups, often with learners at a low level of literacy in both English and Spanish. Learners are paid to participate in the English classes, as part of their overall training and placement program. Tutors will often adapt lessons on the same themes at different levels for the group members. Tutoring usually takes place in one classroom. Attendance and consistency are very rigorously monitored at this site for both learners and tutors. Tutors who miss a session without notice or who are late will be dropped from the program.
Overall, tutors have been very pleased with this site. They found it bright and cheerful, organized, and felt that the staff there was very supportive. Also, tutors loved being around learners with such big hearts, and who were so gracious and dedicated to learning. One of the challenges of the site can be working with a group of learners that are on different proficiency levels.
Other Services and Activities Offered at Site: Job training and placement for Latino elders
Public transportation from Temple University: Take the Broad Street Line north to the Allegheny stop. Take the 60 bus eastbound from Broad and Allegheny to Mascher (one block past Front). Allegheny has lots of curves, so don’t get nervous when the bus makes some turns. Look for the Salvation Army building, which will be on your right. The buildings on this street look very similar. The entrance to AYUDA is at the front of the building, and it should have a small sign at the door that is in the middle of the front of the building. It should say #100. Project AYUDA has a small sign in its window, distinguishing itself from the rest of the buildings.
Driving: Take the same route—Broad Street north to Allegheny, turn right, and find the building at the corner of Allegheny and Mascher. You can park on Allegheny or the side street Mascher.
For more travel options, visit www.septa.org, and click on “Plan My Trip,” or visit maps.google.com and click on “Get directions.”