Germany, like a growing number of other countries, is confronted by the challenge of demographic change with ageing populations. Moreover, this demographic revolution is occurring at a time when revolutionary changes in digital technologies associated with artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnologies are starting to impact on society so that governments are facing the perplexing question of what kind of society will emerge – machine dominated or humanistic.
Africa is undergoing a process of change, as the continent aspires to be completely peaceful and prosperous by 2063. This may seem an overly ambitious goal, given the multifold challenges from both within and outside. In addition, there is an intense debate underway as to whether these social, economic and cultural changes are liabilities or assets in terms of real national and continental unity and sustainable development. The provocative question is how to transform a liability into an asset for nation building.
Interview with Vanna Peou, who is today the country director of DVV International in Cambodia, working at the intersection of adult education and development cooperation. Being born in a poor family in Cambodia during the civil war period made learning really difficult.
Which adult education practices have proven to be successful in order to include young adults at risk of social exclusion and support them in the exercise of active participatory citizenship? This was one of the research questions that moved us – a pool of European researchers – in the field, keen on accessing and investigating existing education programmes in 19 countries across Europe.
There are about 1 million deaf people in Vietnam. They have a hard time accessing information, health, education, transportation and other social services. Sign language – the language of the deaf and of deaf culture – is still largely unknown in Vietnam. There are currently ten sign language interpreters in the whole country. It is very difficult for the deaf to raise their voice in their families, at work and in society.
For the DVV International blog, Timothy Ireland gives an insight into the Mid-Term Review of CONFINTEA VI, which took place in Suwon, South Korea, from 25-27 October 2017.
