CLC Regional Activity Report (1999-2000).

Overview & Synopsis

Community learning centers (CLCs) are local educational institutions outside the formal education system that are usually established and managed by local people to provide various learning opportunities designed to empower individuals and promote community development for all community members regardless of age or socioeconomic group. CLCs provide an appropriate venue for lifelong learning by offering the following types of activities: (1) education and training (including literacy classes, library-based activities, provision of skills training, promotion of lifelong learning, training of nonformal education personnel); (2) community information and dissemination of resources; (3) community development activities; and (4) coordination and networking with existing local educational institutions and governmental and nongovernmental organizations. As part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO's) Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL), context-specific CLCs were established in 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Those countries' experiences in establishing and maintaining CLCs were collected and synthesized to identify innovative practices, effective resource development strategies, and regional cooperative mechanisms for supporting CLCs. The following items are appended: list of participants; APPEAL report; Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO report; case studies of National Federation of UNESCO associations in Japan and partner agencies; and UNESCO Early Childhood and Family Education Unit report. (MN)