THE POST-STANDARD / NEIGHBORS CITY Thursday, March 31, 2011 PAGE 3 .

Dennis Nett / The Post-Standard

THERESA PAGANO, program facilitator for Partners in Learning, teaches an intermediate English speaking class at the West
Side Learning Center. A fundraiser, featuring song, dance, food and a silent auction, is being held for the center and the
MANOS Dual Language Early Education Program.

Bringing the World

Together in Syracuse
April 8 fundraiser to benefit West Side center, program
By Lorenzo Arguello ployment opportunities after Part of the requirement for
Contributing writer mastering these skills. taking courses at the learning
center is that adult learners

L
iliia Bahriy, 27, moved Students go through seven volunteer at the MANOS Dual
from Ukraine to Syra- proficiency levels in English, Language Early Education
cuse in May 2010 to with the highest allowing them Program. MANOS enrolls
look for better opportunities. to take the test of English as a ages 2 to 5 in preparation for a
Dennis Nett / The Post-Standard
She needed help learning Eng- Foreign Language, and apply dual language elementary edu- AHMED HUSSEIN questions another student in an adult Eng-
lish, so some friends suggested for admission at a four-year cation at Seymour Dual Lan- lish speaking class at the West Side Learning Center. Hussein
she go to the West Side Learn- college. guage Academy. MANOS is is from Iraq.
ing Center. Bahriy, who works at Tim housed at the academy at 108
Horton’s at 4743 Onondaga Shonnard St.
The center, at 422 Gifford The learning center and Students in both groups Learning, started an informal
Blvd., started attending classes
St., offers adults English as a MANOS are part of a not-for- work at their own pace and re- pre-school for Latino children
at the learning center in Au-
Second Language courses and gust. profit organization called Part- ceive as much one-on-one help in Syracuse in 1989. The pro-
basic training in computer and ners in Learning. The organi- as possible. gram grew into MANOS.
other vocational skills. ‘‘I’m no longer afraid to zation’s goal is to help immi- Heavy interest from children’s
Courses are aimed at those speak English with other peo- grant families become fully Theresa Pagano, program
FUNDRAISER, PAGE 4
looking for new or better em- ple,’’ Bahriy said. immersed in the community. facilitator for Partners in