President praises international adult learning initiatives
20 Oct 2008 11:52 AM
Today, President Mary McAleese joined over eighty representatives from adult
education across Europe in celebrating the achievements of two outstanding
international adult learning intiatives. The awards were presented as part of
the European Association of Education for Adults (EAEA) annual assembly meeting
which takes place this year at the Grand Hotel in Malahide, Dublin.
The awards demonstrate examples of how adult education contributes to
intercultural learning. Speaking at the launch, President McAleese said:
'Today there are men and women from around the world living among us whose full
potential is dependent upon access to good adult education to help them with
languages, to help them retrain, to help them upskill, to help them attain the
qualifications they need for the jobs they want, to help them live happy and
contented lives not among strangers but among good neighbours and friends
with whom they can communicate easily in a tolerant and egalitarian society.'
'Professionals experience Integration' is the name of the winner of a Dutch
project which was given the European award. The initiative provided
professionals working in the field of integration with the opportunity to
experience the frustrations and challenges of integration as experienced by
newcomers into a country.
The winner in the international category was Pusat Komas, a non governmental
organisation based in Malaysia which promotes human rights and anti-racism
initiatives. Malaysia has only known independence in the last 51 years.
The Assembly meeting is hosted this year by AONTAS, the National Adult Learning
Organisation. AONTAS is a member of the EAEA.
