Twin Sisters Create a Legacy of Literacy

When we think of an anniversary, we don’t necessarily think of a birthday in the traditional “ice cream and cake” sense. However, could anything be better than celebrating the anniversary of the birth of twin sisters, especially when the pair being honored is already giving the gift of literacy?

According to research by ThinkImpact, 66% of 4th-grade children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently, with 21% of adults in the U.S. being nonliterate as of 2023.

Immokalee Foundation students and twin sisters Emili and Abigail are at the tip of the spear, helping to create new pathways to success for the youth of Immokalee by being tutors in the Foundation’s Immokalee Readers program. This proactive approach links high school students with certified teachers. Combined, they support elementary school children struggling to develop their literacy skills.

Last year, 802 elementary school children benefited from the life-changing program.

For Abigail, her inspiration resulted from her experience with having a tutor in elementary school. “My tutor showed me that reading could be fun and introduced me to books by Junie B. Jones. I want to pass that on to students I tutor because it sparked my love of learning and helped me develop new homework skills and study habits.”

Now entering her fourth year as an Immokalee Readers tutor, sister Emili found that tutoring not only impacted her students but nurtured her goal to become an educator.

“Since I want to become an elementary school teacher, tutoring allows me to experience being an educator. Seeing the joy on a child’s face when they learn something new and having the confidence to tell me about their day makes me so proud.”

But it isn’t just the students who benefit; their parents see the rewards of their child’s growing confidence.

“One of my students happened to see me at the supermarket. She tugged on her parent’s hand and pointed at me,” recalled Abigail. “‘That’s my tutor! That’s my tutor,’ she exclaimed. I could feel the joy and pride in her parents’ smiles as they thanked me for helping their child. That was the moment I knew my calling. I’m meant to help people.”

Tutors like Abigail and Emili directly impact the Immokalee Readers Program’s outstanding results. An impressive 97% of Immokalee Readers students showed growth in their reading scores last year.

“When I see a student of mine getting the confidence to read to me or their friends, I get excited because it shows that they are learning and growing,” said Abigail. “This experience will shape my future career because I will have more confidence in being a leader and speaking to my peers. My legacy is already in the children I serve.”

For over 32 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been preparing the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus on education, career readiness, and professional development for students in Immokalee—from kindergarten through postsecondary education. To learn more, please call 239-430-9122 or visit immokaleefoundation.org.