Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society and a building block of development, an essential complement to investment in roads, dams, clinics, and factories.

Literacy is a platform for democratisation, and an agent of family health. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is a basic human right. Literacy is the road to human progress and the means through which every man, women and child can realise his or her full potential.

Kofi Annan
Secretary-General
of the United Nations

Adult Learner's Week 2003 centred on the theme
- Together we develop: Literacy, Learning and a Voice for All - echoing the call of the United Nations Literacy Decade and highlighting how adult learning enables people to realise their full potential and participate fully in the shaping of an equitable and democratic society.

Learners and educators march through Cape Town to celebrate ALW 2003.

Programme of events

ALW 2003 was a dynamic and innovative campaign comprising a variety of local events culminating in provincial and national awards ceremonies and supported by a high profile media campaign.

Special events
From the 1st to 8th September, a co-ordinated programme of decentralised events supported celebrations at centres of learning in both rural and urban areas. A programme of special events provided learners with the opportunity to visit sites of particular cultural and historical significance and we working in partnership with these institutions helped to promote Adult Learners' Week to a wider audience.

Provincial Awards Ceremonies
This was one of the highlights of Adult Learners' Week where learners from across each province came together to celebrate their achievements and adult learning centres had the opportunity to showcase their work and sell their products.

National Awards Ceremony
This year's ceremony was held on the 6th September in Bloemfontein.
Prizes were awarded to exceptional learners, educators, groups and adult learning programmes representing public, private and non-profit sectors. The awards ceremony was preceded by a national conference that facilitated networking and information sharing across the broad adult learning sector. Join us in celebrating this year's success stories, read the 2003 award winning profiles

Media campaign
Reporters are encouraged to interview this year's award winning learners, educators and programmes and to provide a platform for learners and educators to share their success stories with a wider audience. We also invited learners and educators to capture their work on film in our photgraphic competition - Every picture tells a story...