A Gift of Gab

The Children’s Literacy Program at Laguna Hills High School began with a maid crying at a dinner party in Los Angeles.

Just before her senior year, Golnaz Alemi saw the distressed maid and went to see if she could help. “She told me that one of her kids was demoted a grade because he had failed English,” Golnaz said. Realizing that the maid’s struggle was not unique, she decided last fall to start the first-of-its-kind program in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.

The program takes high school honors students and teams them with elementary school students who need extra help learning to read, write and speak English.

About 20 of Golnaz’s classmates have volunteered for the program, and it has had a consistently good turnout of kindergartners through sixth-graders from Valencia, Del Lago and Lomarena elementary schools.

“It’s had an excellent response from the parents,” said Ed Adams, assistant principal and program advisor. “Attendance has tripled since the first week with people that come regularly to get help.”

Maria Moreno brings her four boys every week. “They really love it here,” she said. “I wish I had more time to help out myself.”

A single mother and self-employed housekeeper, Moreno is herself trying to master the language for her citizenship exam. “[The boys] really love Golnaz. These kids helping them is wonderful.”

Golnaz is working to get corporate sponsorship for books and supplies to expand the program. “We just want to help out other kids,” she said. “That’s all I want.”

The teen volunteers all plan to go to college--but not to be teachers. Most plan to go into the medical field. They began tutoring simply because Golnaz asked for help. Golnaz herself wants to be a heart surgeon.

“She’s done a great job, and it comes so much from the heart and with so much sincerity that it’s just incredible--young people reaching out to other young people,” Adams said. “And it’s a feeder program because these children will eventually be here at Laguna Hills High School.”

The program is free and operates Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Laguna Hills High School Career Center, 25401 Paseo de Valencia. Information: (949) 770-5447.