Marlborough is set to host the national Adult Learners' Week event He Tangata Matauranga in September.

Organiser Ailsa Carey is expecting hundreds of people from throughout the country to take part in a range of free activities.

Adult Learners' Week was established in New Zealand in 1998 to raise the profile of adult learning, to celebrate the range of learning opportunities available and the impact it has on people's lives.

Rural Education Activities Programme (Reap) Marlborough, in conjunction with Marlborough Adult and Community Education is collaborating activities throughout the region to promote learning among adults during the week of September 3-9.

Guest speakers include comedian, actor and singer Pio Terei, and national sports commentator and former Picton man Tony Johnston.

Mrs Carey, who is Reap Marlborough community education organiser, says the programme is still in the planning stages. She wanted to encourage all communities, from Kaikoura to the top of the South Island, to get involved.

Reap Marlborough helped to fund adult learning needs provided by 30 volunteers in the region.

Life-long learning was important, so the week-long promotion in September was the perfect opportunity to re-enforce this message, she said.

"When your mind is active it can fill you with confidence.

"I guess the overarching idea is wellbeing – feeling good about yourself and being able to contribute to the community – and the satisfaction you can get from that.

"Why wouldn't you want to keep learning if these are some of the outcomes?"

Reap Marlborough was just one of the many providers that offered adults the opportunity to continue their learning.

Others included Volunteer Marlborough, Barnardos, the Marlborough Migrant Centre, Literacy Marlborough, Bread of Life, and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

"There are so many opportunities for people in Marlborough to carry on learning, whether it's learning a skill, or picking up a craft or hobby, or getting a new qualification," Mrs Carey said.

"If we can open the door for adult learning, if we can light that spark to encourage them to continue learning or take them into the workforce, or wherever it may take them ... that's what we want to do."

zAdults Learners' Week is held annually during the first week of September. Any education providers wanting to get involved should contact Mrs Carey at Reap House Marlborough, 035787848, or email ailsa@reapmarlborough.co.nz.

- The Marlborough Express

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