On September 8, 9, and 10, 2026, the 8th World Forum for Lifelong Learning took place at the Pontifical Javeriana University in Bogotá, Colombia, co-organized with the World Committee for Lifelong Learning (WCLL).
Gathered around the theme “Lifelong Learning: Pillars for Peace and Paths to Social Transformation”, researchers, decision-makers, and international leaders affirmed a shared conviction: education cannot stop at the doorstep of vulnerability.
It is in this spirit that the NGO LAFAM, represented by Mr. Philippe Farschi, took the floor to share a concrete and vital testimony: that of learning as a driver of resilience at the very heart of refugee and displaced persons camps in Iraq.
LAFAM’s Experience in Iraq: Learning Amidst Crisis
In camps for displaced persons across the Middle East and Iraq, immediate humanitarian aid (food, shelter, medical care) is essential. However, once the immediate emergency is stabilized, a fundamental question remains: how do we offer new horizons and rebuild the future for uprooted people?
On the ground in Iraq, the NGO LAFAM deploys lifelong learning programs designed to restore dignity and open concrete perspectives:
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Vocational Training and Empowerment: Practical workshops enabling youth and adults to acquire tangible skills and develop micro-economic activities within the camps.
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Literacy and Digital Skills: Providing women and adults with the essential tools needed to regain daily independence.
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Learning Spaces and Psychosocial Support: Offering a structured environment that helps overcome war trauma and recreates social cohesion.
LAFAM’s Message at the Bogotá Forum
During the working sessions of the World Forum, LAFAM shared key insights gained from its field interventions around three major pillars:
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Preventing Despair and Radicalization: Providing young refugees with continuous learning pathways means restoring their active role and sense of worth within the community.
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Fostering Social Cohesion: Shared learning spaces transcend the ethnic and religious divides stemming from recent conflicts in Iraq.
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Preparing Tomorrow’s Reconstruction: The skills passed on today in the camps serve as the foundations upon which these populations will rebuild their homes and societies.
“In a refugee camp, a training session or a workshop is not just a class: it is an act of personal reconstruction and a tangible pillar for future peace.”
— LAFAM NGO Representative at the 8th World Forum
Pursuing Collective Action
LAFAM’s participation in this 8th edition of the World Forum helped forge valuable partnerships with the academic and international stakeholders present in Bogotá, strengthening everyone’s commitment to making lifelong learning an accessible reality, even in the most complex crisis zones.
