Learning 4 Life is a path to empower people to build confidence in themselves by learning self-reliance in every day life.

We will offer a variety of programs for both youth and adults. The adult programs focus more on vehicle safety/maintenance and hand/power tools that are found in a typical household.

Learning 4 Life offers the same workshops for youths as we do for adults, age depending, but also offer additional learning opportunities in the areas of technology such as coding, engineering, electronics and robotics. We strive to enhance learner’s self-confidence, motivation, and self-esteem, and help prepare them for careers of the future.

Although the technology/STEM workshops are geared towards children and youth, they can always be offered to adults upon request.

My Story

My name is Meiko Matsumoto and I am an outdoors enthusiast and an educator who is passionate about teaching, learning and creating unique learning opportunities. I have a Bachelor of Education from UBC with a specialization in Technology Education with distinction from BCIT. I grew up in the lower mainland where I worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor for 16 years, including running my own business teaching private swim lessons for 4 years. It was here that I discovered my passion for teaching and wanted to pursue a career in education. I have always had an interest in educating and learning in the non-traditional sense.

Vancouver Island has always held a special place in my heart. Whenever I was able to take time off, I would travel here and explore every nook and cranny possible. I finally moved to Vancouver Island in 2011 for my first teaching assignment. I taught Technology Education and English at Cumberland Junior School, then transferred to NIDES where I spent 4 years developing a specialized blended learning program for unique students with very diverse learning needs (ENTER program). In the summers, I taught Lego Robotics and STEM based camps for North Island College, including one in Port Hardy for local First Nations children. In these positions, I had the opportunity to create individualized learning plans and projects to meet learners where they were at, rather than to what grade level they were in. In doing this, I am able to have multiple learners working on different projects and levels simultaneously allowing for more choice in how they learn and how to present their knowledge. I had 6 wonderful years teaching in the public system in School District #71 (Comox Valley).

In 2017, I was involved in 2 car accidents and suffered traumatic brain injuries. After a long road of rehabilitation and trying to get back to my career, I was told I was unable to return to teaching. Saddened by the news, I began to think of ways I could continue my passion in the field of education. I was longing to still be able to provide educational experiences in a way that was feasible for me. I then remembered what drew me to pursue Technology Education as my specialty all those years ago. I had purchased my first car at 16, not long after getting my driver’s license. My alternator went and I had to take it to a mechanic to fix it. Shocked at how much it cost me to have it repaired, and, being independent, hated the thought of being a slave to a mechanic. From that day forward, I bought a Haynes manual (there was no YouTube back then) and started repairing my vehicle myself. It was an empowering experience and saved me a ton of money!

It finally dawned on me that I could offer workshops! They would allow me to continue in my love of teaching and share my knowledge in a capacity that I could handle. And so, the story begins!

Educational Philosophy

I am passionate in helping develop learners who are self-motivated and active participants in their educational journey. I aim to enable youth to think creatively, act responsibly and be contributing members of their community. As an educator, I have always striven to cultivate learners that aspire to achieve these very goals. The ultimate goal is to foster individuals to understand who they are both as people and as learners, as individuals and as part of a learning community. I encourage them to not only understand how they learn best across a variety of subjects and learning environments, but also how to communicate their needs in order to optimize their educational opportunities and potential. Learning should be fun, engaging and inclusive and not intimidating.

As a certified Technology Education teacher, all my courses provide instruction to the highest standards of safety outlined in industry, WorkSafe BC and the Head’s up for Safety curriculum.

NOTE: As a new business, I am still developing and getting started. Right now, I am only offering the Vehicle Emergency Safety workshop but will be expanding to the other workshops in due time. If you see one of particular interest, please send me an inquiry. If there is interest in specific workshops, I’ll work hard to get those ones out sooner. Thank you for your patience while I get going.