Ben Guerir, a city in Morocco’s Marrakesh-Safi region, has been awarded the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Learning City Award for 2024, recognizing its exceptional efforts to promote lifelong learning, UNESCO announced on Monday during the opening of the Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
The UNESCO Learning City Award highlights cities worldwide that have demonstrated the power of education to empower citizens of all ages and backgrounds. Representing both large metropolises and smaller urban areas, UNESCO selected the winners for Lifelong Learning (UIL), based on recommendations from an independent jury of international experts.
Ben Guerir, previously named a UNESCO Learning City in 2020, won the award for its significant strides in creating inclusive and innovative learning opportunities. The city has increased its lifelong learning budget by 164% for 2024, enabling a wide range of impactful initiatives, including the “2nd Chance School” literacy program to reintegrate school dropouts, reduce illiteracy among women, community learning spaces such as digital libraries, and tailored support for marginalized groups, including autistic children and non-verbal children.
“Ben Guerir has become a shining example of how cities can create accessible, inclusive learning opportunities that empower citizens and foster community development,” the Director of UNESCO’s Institute for Lifelong Learning, Isabell Kempf, said.
In addition to Ben Guerir, nine other cities received the UNESCO Learning City Award 2024, including Bouake (Ivory Coast), Cork (Ireland), Cuenca (Ecuador), Doha (Qatar), Eunpyeong-gu (Republic of Korea), Glasgow (United Kingdom), Queretaro (Mexico), Wuhan (China), and Yanbu Industrial City (Saudi Arabia).
The UNESCO Learning City network, which includes 356 cities across 79 countries, continues to grow, showcasing the importance of education and community-driven initiatives for sustainable development.