An English and literacy program for Steinbach and the Southeast region continues to hold classes but has moved to the online platform.

The South Eastman English & Literacy Services or SEELS has been in operation as a non-profit learning centre since 1991. For a good span of time, it had its office in the basement of the Grace Mennonite Church along Third Street. In recent years, it has since moved to the classroom in the Jake Epp Library where it held its free English language classes. When the COVID-19 restrictions took effect, classes continued through online video conferencing.

Val Zacharias is the director of SEELS. She points out that their services are free for residents of Manitoba wanting to upgrade their literacy skills for daily life, work and further education. Zacharias shares that their organization is the only one offering literacy upgrading skills from a zero level to entering high school. "Most other organizations will want you to have a higher level of reading and writing, but we can start from square one. So, if you need that kind of help and you can speak and understand some English, then we would love to help you,” she explained.

Instructor Amanda Piché says that SEELS teachers are flexible in helping students meet their specific goals. "We're very student-centered. So if you come to us and you have a very specific goal related to literacy, we can take the things that you want to work on and we'll work those into your programming." She encourages those interested in signing up for classes to visit englishandliteracy.ca for more information.