The Lifelong Learner Awards aim to recognise individual adult learners who have made positive changes in their lives through lifelong learning and who are an inspiration to non-learners. The Award is held in conjunction with the Singapore Learning Festival, which is organised by the MOM and WDA.

A spokesperson from the People’s Association said, "One of the CDCs’ strategic thrusts in bonding the community is to promote lifelong learning The CDCs have implemented learning initiatives at the local level and have been actively encouraging their residents to pick up new skills. Some of these learning initiatives include the setting up of eClubs around the Districts to make IT accessible to the masses, organizing training sessions to cultivate entrepreneurs and English language courses to help residents brush up on their English. Being part of the Lifelong Learner Awards is one way which the CDCs reach out to their residents to motivate and recognise their lifelong learning efforts."

"We are looking for heartwarming and inspiring stories that reflect an individual’s perseverance and determination in the pursuit of continuous learning", said Ms Abegail Chew, Deputy Director, Corporate Communications at Ministry of Manpower. "We believe the real-life experiences of the winners will be very powerful in motivating other Singaporeans to climb on board the learning wagon. This is why we have extended the Awards to include CDC Learning Ambassadors. They will help us spread the lifelong learning message to even more people in the heartland," added Ms Chew.

Winners of the Lifelong Learner Awards will receive $500 each to further their learning, training and self development. They will receive their Awards at the opening ceremony of the Learning Expo 2003 at Suntec Singapore on 21 November this year.

Last year, 23 winners were selected. One of last year’s winners was 41 year-old Mr Han Kok Kwang. Since winning last year’s awards, he has used the cash prize to set up a website portal - Personal Master.com - to share with others on how they can maximise their potential through personal mastery. Mr Han has also written a book "No Job? No Problem!" in which he inspires the retrenched and jobless to take charge of their lives. "Take a cue from nature", he advises. "Those who survive are those who have learnt how to adapt to a changing environment. If you want to break free from the fear and anxiety of losing your job, and if you want to live a meaningful life of your choice, then be a lifelong learner. The more you learn, the higher your returns, and we are talking more than monetary returns", added Mr Han.

This year’s Lifelong Learner Awards are open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 18 and above. All nominations must reach the organisers by 5pm on Sunday, 14 September 2003. For more details on the awards, please log on to the Lifelong Learners’ website at www.mediacorpradio.com.

About Singapore Learning Festival

The Manpower 21 blueprint, unveiled by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in August 1999, underscores the strategic importance of lifelong learning to enhance the employability of each and every Singaporean and the competitiveness of our businesses in the global economy.

The Singapore Learning Promotion initiative was launched in 2000 to help change mindsets and promote a new lifelong learning for employability culture in Singapore. The anchor event of this initiative is the Singapore Learning Festival (SLF) which will now come under the newly formed Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA). MOM and WDA will continue in its efforts to promote continuous education and learning.

The objective of the SLF is to bring together the public, private and people sectors to create awareness of the importance of continuous learning through a diversity of activities and events.

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