Learn something new good for you

Pahiatua and Pongaroa this year will be joining other towns nationwide to celebrate Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei A¯konga, September 3 — 9, formerly known as Adult Learners’ Week, with awards evenings in each town to value lifelong learning.

REAP Wairarapa is co-ordinating the Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei A¯konga awards evening for Pahiatua Monday September 3 at the Library to start at 5.30pm and Pongaroa Tuesday September 4 at Pongaroa Community Hall at 7pm.

The public are welcome to come and hear what learning is happening in their neighbourhoods. Nominations are for Outstanding Adult Learner Awards, Commendation Adult Learner Awards and Exceptional Adult Educator Awards.

Nominations come from organisations, businesses and groups who want to acknowledge adults learning and tutoring in the community and encourage learners and educators.

There is always the hope other adults will be inspired to take up learning something new or share what they know with other adults in teaching roles.

Adult learners of all ages and backgrounds report benefits like better self-esteem, greater tolerance, confidence and career prospects with filling a skill or knowledge gap as well mental agility as people age, lifelong learning stimulates the brain, gets us off the couch and creates vibrant communities.

For 20 years New Zealanders have joined adults in over 40 countries to celebrate the joy of learning. Adult Learners’ Week is a UNESCO initiative highlighting the importance and benefits of lifelong learning and encouraging people to try learning something new.

The Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei Akonga ¯ will be launched at Rutherford College in West Auckland on Saturday, September 1

ACE Aotearoa is the lead agency for adult and community education in Aotearoa.

For more information see the website www.aceaotearoa.org.nz/events/festivaladult-learning or check out Rural Education Activities Programme — REAP Wairarapa, visit Wairarapa REAP website or contact Shirley Jones 027 2227693 shirley.jones@waireap.org.nz

Left to right: Fay Hemopo, Ataneta Paewai, Mandy Fleming, Kathy Braddick and Shirley Jones. Pahiatua Adult Learners Week 2014 Committee presenting ACE PLACE Trail prize to draw winner Mandy Fleming of Pahiatua.

Outstanding Adult Learner Rob Forman for Level 5 NZ Cert in Production Management Dairy Farming Taratahi Ag Training Centre, PITO.

Alison Nagel and Karen Stewart of PAUA in 2017.