Do you know someone who has dedicated their life to adult education? Or someone who showed the power education can have in changing lives? Do you want their efforts to be recognised and rewarded?

As of 2011, Västra Nylands folkhögskola Finland celebrates, through an international award, the lasting contribution adult educators make to cultural, social and economic development. We will reward every year an individual from any part of the world who has made a particularly deserving contribution to the development or provision of adult education. The award honours an individual's commitment to popular enlightenment, his or her efforts to make the right to education a reality, his or her attempts to achieve the challenging goals of adult education worldwide: universal literacy, personal autonomy, peace, social justice.

The Award is established in memory of the late Principal of Västra Nylands folkhögskola, Kaj-Erik Nordström (1942-2004), a determined proponent of life-long learning who believed that any mind should be given a chance to grow – regardless of age, social background or previous schooling.

So do you know someone who deserves the Kaj-Erik Nordström Award? Nominate them here or send your contact details and questions to award@vnf.fi!

The deadline for submission of nominations is 31 July 2011.

Presentation of the Award

The Award will be accompanied by a monetary prize in value of 2,000EUR.

The name of the Award winner will be made public on 2 November 2011, at 12:00CET.

The Award will be presented at an official ceremnoy in mid-Ferbruary 2012 (date to be communicated in the near future). The winner and their spouse will be invited to attend the ceremony at the expense of Västra Nylands folkhögskola.