One of the key events in our year is the annual Adult Learners' Week - the first full week in September. This week is celebrated all over the world to bring to the public the idea that learning is not only about school, but can - even should - be a continuing challenge throughout one's life.

ALPN fully supports the concept of life-long learning while recognising that our specific goals of literacy and numeracy are only a small fraction of the total challenge. Small though this fraction may be, however, without being literate and numerate many of the other challenges in adult learning could well be unachievable!

This document is provided to show what we have done to bring our existence and offerings to the wider Palmerston North community during the first week in September each year.

Adult Learners' Week 2007

We have for the first time during the annual Adult Learners' Week been involved in two separate events in order to bring to the wider community -

• A display in the Downtown shopping plaza on Wednesday 5th September.
• A display in the City library on Friday 7th September

While Saturday, 8th September was International Adult Literacy day, we felt that we had stretched ourselves enough for this year. Next year, however, we must see what more we can do for that special day.

Downtown Plaza

The Wednesday display was organised under the sponsorship of Adult Continuing Education (ACE) in New Zealand. In conjunction with ESOL in Palmerston North and Methodist Social Services, we manned a table and display stand in Downtown Plaza Palmerston North - hoping to make the many shoppers who passed by at least aware that we have the facility to help them.

We were approached by several people interested in learning - and also in helping too. It is always heart-warming to know that there are others out in the community wishing to join in helping their fellows in the community. We look forward to meeting these kind people over the next few weeks to find out what we can do together.

City Library

Friday saw us in the City library, manning a stand in the Adult Learning and language section for the day. Once again we attracted a number of interested people from all walks of life - whether just looking at the display or discussing possible courses which might help them.

If our presence attracted only a few people to actually discuss their needs with us we have in part fulfilled our obligation to raise awareness of the need for continuing education throughout life for this year.