Chch Group Scoops UNESCO Adult Learning Award

Media Release

Embargoed until 7pm Sunday 3 September 2006

Christchurch Group Scoops UNESCO Adult Learning Award

The inaugural UNESCO Adult Learning Award for Education for Sustainable Development has been won by Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch.

The Award is one of two established by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, with the purpose of fostering community-based learning activities that promote education for sustainable development or human rights, diversity and participation.

The Award will be presented at the Adult Learners’ Week He Tangata Mãtauranga launch at the Auckland Museum on Sunday September 3.

Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch(SOC)works towards the bold vision of Christchurch people “practising, living and demonstrating sustainability in all that they do.” By empowering people to engage in the issues affecting the future of their community, theypromote the message that sustainability is everyone’s business.

Award judges were impressed with the fact that Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch is committed to providing community learning opportunities for adults around the issue of environmental sustainability, one of the key concerns for our future in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Dynamic Community Learning Awards

Te Aroha Noa, Matariki Tupu Hou and Positively Clutha Women are the recipients of this year’s Dynamic Community Learning Awards which will also be presented at the Adult Learners’ Week He Tangata Mãtauranga launch.

Sponsored by Mary-Jane Rivers, the McCombs-Rivers family and Alison Broad, the Awardsacknowledge adult education programmes that help strengthen communities.

Te Aroha Noa Community Services, based in Highbury, Palmerston North offers multi-disciplinary, integrated, early intervention services to lower socio-economic families creating a learning community underpinned by the Maori concept of Ako. The organisation works to “unleash the potential” in the community it serves.

Matariki Tupu Hou Community Kapahaka Group and Whanau began as a community kapahaka group open to all in the Central Otago area who were interested in learning waiata, te reo and related culture and protocol. It has developed into an organisation offering ongoing learning opportunities and bridging gaps in knowledge and understanding.

Positively Clutha Women provides workshops, seminars and other learning opportunities to empower women of the Clutha District to reach their full potential.

Each year the group holds a Rural Women’s Week offering workshops and speakers throughout the district and attracting over 2000 people.

Throughout Adult Learners’ Week He Tangata Mãtauranga, inspirational learners and teachers will be honoured at award ceremonies all over New Zealand. Each year around half a million adult New Zealanders participate in adult learning programmes.

This year’s theme ‘Changing Lives, Building Strong Communities Akoranga Pakari Whakawhiti Oranga me te Hanga hapori Pakari’ emphasises the potential of community based adult learning for increasing the opportunities of individuals and strengthening communities.

ENDS

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