UNESCO Learning City Awardee 2021Huejotzingo, Mexico
In 2021, the city of Huejotzingo received the UNESCO Learning City Award for outstanding progress in providing lifelong learning opportunities for its over 90,000 citizens.
Lifelong learning at the center of development
By placing lifelong learning at the centre of development, Huejotzingo has transformed itself from an agricultural community to the industrial heart of the Mexican state of Puebla.
Through a comprehensive learning strategy that prioritizes equity and inclusion, sustainable development and entrepreneurship, and the implementation of 140 learning projects over the past 10 years, the city has made major steps forward:
Through a comprehensive learning strategy that prioritizes equity and inclusion, sustainable development and entrepreneurship, and the implementation of 140 learning projects over the past 10 years, the city has made major steps forward:
- decreasing illiteracy by 50 per cent;
- expanding access to the internet and new technologies;
- supporting 1,000 female entrepreneurs in setting up projects;
- and organizing Huejotzingo’s first ever Festival of Learning with the participation of more than 25 per cent of the city’s more than 90,000 inhabitants.
Angelica AlvaradoMayor of Huejotzingo, Mexico
'Hello, I am Angelica Alvarado, mayor of the Huejotzingo in Mexico. Lifelong learning has been a fundamental factor in our city’s transformation. Today, citizens have turned into change agents through the sharing of their knowledge, but most of all we’ve stepped forward in education by making learning an important part of our public policy in the city.'
A wide variety of learning initiative
From agricultural courses to family learning, mobile libraries and entrepreneurship training, Huejotzingo offers learning opportunities to all of its citizens.
Combining traditional knowledge with innovation
After joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, Huejotzingo founded its first 'Escuela Campesina', a school where rural farmers, producers, students and families come together to share knowledge.
The school supports family agriculture, specifically the cultivation of avocados, orchard fruits and livestock, and the production of organic fertilizer.
152 farmers and Indigenous people are currently learning how to produce goods sustainably – combining innovative approaches with traditional knowledge.
The school supports family agriculture, specifically the cultivation of avocados, orchard fruits and livestock, and the production of organic fertilizer.
152 farmers and Indigenous people are currently learning how to produce goods sustainably – combining innovative approaches with traditional knowledge.
Family learning for a green community
Green Community Child Centers were set up across Huejotzingo to offer workshops on agricultural and cultivation techniques. Classes are carried out in collaboration with parents to strengthen ties among family members.
Making childrens' voices heard
Huejotzingo created a Children's Participation Council with girls and boys from all areas. Through the council, the city makes childrens' voices heard, includes them in decision-making and enables them to become change agents in their families and schools.
Julian PetrisChildren’s Participation Committee
'My name is Julian Petris. I’m a member of the committee of children’s participation of Huejotzingo. This committee helped me to know more about my rights, my city, its culture and history. I’ve practiced sports as well, and I’ve managed to invite more kids so their proposals can be taken into account to build a better city.'
Leticia SandovalConsultative committee member
I' am Leticia Sandoval, a member of the Consultative Committee of Huejotzingo. Being a part of this committee has been very gratifying since it has allowed us to hear the interests and concerns of the girls, boys and adolescents, giving value and respect to their voice and vote. I am sure that with this common initiative we are transforming the future of Huejotzingo to be a better learning city.'
Strengthening entrepreneurship among women
Together with UN Habitat and Ballon Latam the city implemented the programm '1,000 extraordinary women'.
With this programme female entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses were able to further develop their capacities and with some seed funding found businesses with social impact.
With this programme female entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses were able to further develop their capacities and with some seed funding found businesses with social impact.
‘Sharing to Learn’ strategy
The ‘Sharing to Learn’
initiative
encourages the donation of didactic materials, books, utilities, and volunteer work for the organization of new activities.
With this strategy, the city has been able to collect over one thousand books for the community cultural centres and provide over 400 computers for primary and secondary schools.
With this strategy, the city has been able to collect over one thousand books for the community cultural centres and provide over 400 computers for primary and secondary schools.
Mobile Library
Reaching out to marginalized areas of the city is a priority of
Huejotzingo. Through the Mobile Library initiative books have been made available to learners of the most remote neighbourhoods.
Celebrating lifelong learning
Huejotzingo’s first ever Festival of Learning was a great success, celebrating education and a culture of peace with the participation of more than 25 per cent of the city’s 90,000+ inhabitants.
When it joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2019, Huejotzingo’s goal was to create a united city where no one is left behind. The Festival of Learning clearly showed that the municipality has made great strides towards achieving this goal. Lifelong learning is becoming a reality for young and old in Huejotzingo.
When it joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2019, Huejotzingo’s goal was to create a united city where no one is left behind. The Festival of Learning clearly showed that the municipality has made great strides towards achieving this goal. Lifelong learning is becoming a reality for young and old in Huejotzingo.
Further information about theUNESCO Learning City of Huejotzingo
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Learning City Award was established to further promote lifelong learning for all and showcase good practices in building learning cities. It is conferred on cities that have achieved outstanding progress in this regard. All awardee cities have demonstrated best practices that lay the foundation for sustainable development.
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © Getty Images / Delbars; Andy Dean Photography; Getty Images / DarioGaona; Getty Images / Patricia_Arriaga; Getty Images / JackF; Getty Images / steiann; Getty Images / camaralenta; City of Huejotzingo
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © Getty Images / Delbars; Andy Dean Photography; Getty Images / DarioGaona; Getty Images / Patricia_Arriaga; Getty Images / JackF; Getty Images / steiann; Getty Images / camaralenta; City of Huejotzingo
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Huejotzingo, Mexico
Lifelong learning at the center of development
Angelica Alvarado
A wide variety of learning initiative
Combining traditional knowledge with innovation
Family learning for a green community
Making childrens' voices heard
Julian Petris
Leticia Sandoval
Strengthening entrepreneurship among women
‘Sharing to Learn’ strategy
Mobile Library
Celebrating lifelong learning
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities