Waiheke Adult Literacy, Wellington MenzShed Recognised

Media Release August 30 2013

Waiheke Adult Literacy and the Wellington MenzShed Recognised for Excellence in Community Learning

Waiheke Adult Literacy and the Wellington MenzShed are this year’s recipients of Dynamic Community Learning Awards. The Awards recognise excellence in community-based learning and will be presented during Adult Learners’ Week/He Tangata Mātauranga, September 2-8.

Sponsors Mary-Jane Rivers, Patrick McCombs and Alison Broad who established the Awards nine years ago to acknowledge the impact of community-based learning on community development, say this year’s awards recipients exemplify the spirit of the Awards.

Waiheke Adult Literacy has a vision for a resilient Waiheke Community where all adults are empowered through learning. Sponsors say it’s a vision that’s a great fit for the Dynamic Community Learning Awards and the organisation is making it happen in many different ways – through one to one and group literacy support, partnerships with a local school and pre school, specialist programmes for Māori learners and wananga involving ages from eight months to eighty years.

The Wellington MenzShed is also a great fit for the kaupapa of the Awards. The shed in the inner city provides companionship, community and skills sharing for its members. Members repair or make things for childcare centres and other community groups often passing on valuable skills and knowledge about materials and structure. They also run sessions on men’s health and recently started teaching wood working skills to young people. Earlier this year they won an international competition in the UK – jointly run by Britain’s National Health Service and Salford City Council.

Adult Learners’ Week/He Tangata Mātauranga, September 2-8, will be launched in Kaitaia on September 2. Before the midday launch ceremony at Te Ahu Community Centre visitors have been invited to embark on a learning journey involving a tour of historic sites between Cape Reinga and Kaitaia.

Hundreds of events and activities are planned for the week which includes International Literacy Day on September 8. Events include learning expos, open days, taster courses, awards ceremonies and competitions.

Adult Learners’ Week/He Tangata Mātauranga, celebrates all adult learning whether it’s upskilling for a better job, preparing for further study, improving life skills or getting fit and having some fun. It is supported by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.

Adult Learners’ Week/He Tangata Mātauranga is organised by ACE Aotearoa.
For more information see the website www.adultlearnersweek.org.nz

ENDS

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