ASPBAE as part of the COE project sent an indigenous educator from Aotearoa New Zealand, Ms. Sandra Morrison, to the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI) held from 1-4 December 2009 in Belem, Brazil and the International Civil Society Forum (FISC) that preceded the main event (28-30 November). The conference provided an important platform for educators from many nations to lobby and dialogue on policy and advocacy for adult learning and non-formal education.
The theme was ‘Living and learning for a viable future: the power of adult learning’. Ms Morrison was a key speaker at a workshop entitled ‘Inclusion of indigenous people in adult learning and education’. She was also a key speaker at a workshop on ‘Interculturality’ in FISC. She spoke on behalf of the Asia and Pacific region in the opening session of FISC and highlighted the importance of social and cultural diversity.