Adult education for resilience? COVID-19-induced pondering for practice
21 October 2021, 10:00 - 11:30 | South Africa
South Africa
Webinar
MOJA invites adult educators to a conversation with Astrid von Kotze, adult educator and activist. Astrid is and education activist working with organisations and people in poor working class communities in/around Cape Town, South Africa. Until 2009, she was Professor of Adult Education and Community Development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, subsequently professor emerita at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Astrid has been deeply involved in cultural activism, and published widely on popular education, health and sustainable livelihood security.
In the conversation with Astrid, we will focus on the topic of Adult Education for Resilience? COVID-19-induced pondering for practice.
Resilience has become a buzzword ‘touted as a protective talisman against the effects of trauma, which individuals, communities and whole economies are told to cultivate. ‘ (Saner 2020) It has taken on the quality of moral virtue with ‘resourcefulness’ reframed as praise for one’s ability to continually adapt (Ames & Greer 2021). In this way, resilience is akin to the aspiration for education for ‘sustainable development’, a continuation of the same-old, with slight adjustments.
The questions are: what does ‘resilience’ mean? Should adult education go with the same-old? What are community/adult educators’ assumptions, and how do they relate to the realities of learner / participants on the ground? What ideas should be dropped, and what imaginings be taken on now, for the future? What are new ways of shaping adults educating and learning, in a (post-) Covid-era?
This webinar will critically examine notions of ‘resilience’, spotlight some of our assumptions about ALE, and propose a a life-affirming adult education for the future.
Cost
FREE
Upcoming events
Past events
Financing Models for Literacy and Non-Formal Education in West Africa
Theme: Financing Models for Literacy and Non-Formal Education in West Africa
Presenter: Ms. Eleonore Ouedraogo
Date: October 28, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM GMT (Mali and Togo Time)
Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/53IRrjpZRByIGMcMd4bmyw
Webinar: 'Exploring learning through culture: Leveraging the arts to empower cities'
You are warmly invited to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities' Webinar: ‘Exploring learning through culture: Leveraging the arts to empower cities’ on 15 October 2025. This event is part of our global webinar series, ‘Unlocking the power of lifelong learning’, bringing together stakeholders from across the globe on the first and third Wednesday of every month.
This webinar will focus on culture and the arts as powerful vehicles for promoting lifelong learning in cities. Creative processes, whether they are related to the visual arts, music, dance or theatre, can foster new ways of thinking, personal growth and self-expression. These activities not only enhance cognitive abilities but also inspire individuals to see the world in a different way, encouraging innovative and outside-the-box thinking. Artistic interventions in urban spaces can transform city environments, offering opportunities to reconnect with local cultural heritage and forge stronger community bonds.
This webinar will delve into the potential of culture and artistic practices to shape urban learning experiences. Speakers will consider how cultural institutions and public art initiatives make culture-based learning accessible to diverse audiences. They will discuss strategies for integrating the arts into urban education policies. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how cultural initiatives can be designed to enhance educational inclusion, engagement and empowerment across diverse communities.
Time
15 October 2025, 13:00 to 14:00 (CEST)