Skills for Employment, Life and Family, formerly the Peel Literacy Guild, is a registered charity. It began providing free, one-on-one literacy tutoring to English-speaking learners in 1981.

Up until then, although Mississauga had numerous classes for English as a Second Language, there was no tutoring service for basic literacy, and the Peel Literacy Guild was established to meet this emerging need.

Since 1981, over 5,000 adults have received literacy training through SELF. This training has made a difference in their lives at work, home and in the community by enabling them to participate more fully and with increased independence. SELF's programs have expanded to include two learning centres, one in Mississauga and one in Brampton.

We believe that literacy is necessary for full community participation and quality of life, and that all of our learners have the potential to improve their literacy skills.  SELF's literacy approach focuses on how adults learn best, with learner input into what, how and when they when they learn. We also strive to inform the public about the importance of literacy and work with our community to enhance literacy levels.

SELF has been a leader in support of literacy and volunteer networking activities locally and provincially with staff members having sat on the boards of the:

• Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy
• Peel Adult Learning Network
• Ontario Literacy Coalition
• Peel/Halton/Dufferin Educators and Trainers Reference Group to the Local Training and Adjustment Board (Area 10)
• Volunteer Centre of Peel
• Peel Volunteer Administrators Network