“Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom” – Oprah Winfrey

A good education is the foundation on which people’s lives can be improved making upward socioeconomic mobility possible and is a key to escaping poverty.

As a direct result of the COVID 19 pandemic more children than ever before have been out of school at the same time, disrupting learning and upending lives, especially those of the most vulnerable and marginalised. Before COVID it was estimated that more than half of all children and adolescents worldwide are not meeting minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics.

But education is not the preserve of the young. Lifelong learning is the broad term for the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge throughout life with the main goal of improving personal or professional development.

Does lifelong learning also benefit society? Definitely yes. it not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development, but also self-sustainability, as well as competitiveness and employability.

With society in a state of constant flux ongoing education helps to adapt to innovation and change: it nourishes a curious, hungry mind and encourages a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints.

Lifelong learning is promoted by WICMI through sharing knowledge and experience, a community service enabling those who can to give back to their communities and to the world.