11th Adult Learners Week, 10-17 Oct 2008
„INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE – DIVERSITIES TOGETHER”
During the ALW, activities took place in every county, town and village. 473 events were held with the participation of 16 702 people. There were lectures, workshops, popular quizzes and information days alongside with computer and language courses. Free professional counselling was provided to 397 people.
Preparations for ALW had started already in spring when regional training days took place for members of the over-Estonian network in Tallinn, Tartu, Haapsalu and Narva. There were over 200 people listening to respective presentations by Marju Lauristin and Anu Virovere. ALW 2008 theme-related discussions and activity planning for local communities were upon focus.
The 11th ALW was opened in Võru Cultural Centre Kannel. The highlight of the celebrations was the recognition of the Learner of the Year – Ingrid Savi from RaplaCounty. The title of the Educator of the Year was received by Marju Heldema fromLääne County. AS Selver was pronounced the Education Friendly Organisation andVinni Rural Municipality became the Education Friendly Local Government of the Year 2008. There were 146 nominees in four categories altogether.
In addition to the usual categories, a special award „Take pleasure in learning” was given in 2008. It was received by the furniture manufacturer Allar Toomik who had learned to play bellows. The title „It is never late to learn” was granted to Enno Kell fromViljandi County who, being retired, had learned to use the computer which had enabled him to write down his life story.
The 12th Adult Education Forum „Adult education in the 100-year-old Estonia” was held on 17 Oct 2008 where the present situation was evaluated with the perspective of the changes necessary for innovative thinking within the society. Prior to that a pre-forum titled „Off the chest” had taken place in Luua in June.
At the end of November, the 4th Adult Learners’ Forum (ALF) that had come into being in order to find an output for the positive experience and energy of the recognised learners, gathered. The counties’ learners of the year and representatives of adult gymnasiums participated in the ALF of 2008. The participants made a proposal to disseminate the learners’ success stories in village societies and study circles to serve as role models for those who have not yet acknowledged the advantages of learning.
At the end of September a learning bus started its 4775 km journey, passing all 15 counties on its way, stopping in 64 places, and providing nearly 1500 people the knowledge about continuing training and learning possibilities. The bus always chose a small settlement for its stop to be able to share information about lifelong learning with the people with limited access to the respective information. In certain destinations workshops were held simultaneously to the bus activities in community centres.
A learning tram was on the move in Tallinn, named „Take pleasure in learning”, where the students of Tallinn Adult Gymnasium disseminated information about learning possibilities. Travellers had a possibility to solve education-related crosswords. The very best of them were given a free course at Tallinn FolkHigh School as an award. During the Day of a Free Book, 200 books, mostly on adult education, were distributed with the accompanying information about the idea of ALW with a purpose of encouraging people of different age groups to proceed in their learning.
Inspired by the theme of ALW 2008 „Intercultural dialogue – diversities together” the andragogy students of Tallinn University conducted a project of Estonian-Finnish learning ship on board of the Tallink ferry – Superstar. The Head of the Finnish Institute in Estonia, Jaana Vasama, introduced the similarities and differences of the neighbouring people. The photography student of Estonian Academy of Arts, Maria Aua, spoke about what kind of photographs should be taken while travelling and how it should be done. An objective of the learning ship was to introduce Finnish and Estonian cultures to lead us to the better understanding of other nationalities and people around us.
The 9th ALW took a step forward in its media coverage. Besides the articles about ALW activities in relevant daily and county newspapers, there were both TV and radio programmes and respective articles in the newspapers of rural municipalities. It included mostly stories of the local recognised learners and timetable of the learning bus. Andras also held a seminar for the editors of local newspapers on the issues of lifelong learning. The importance of the latter was unanimously admitted. It was a common idea that besides the information about courses and trainings, it would be inspiring to read about the changing careers and self-improvement of learners.
Looking forward to seeing you during the
12th Adult Learners’ Week, 2-9 Oct 2009!