An international newsletter published on the first day of every month for U3A members and kindred groups anywhere in the world.

Please send items of possible interest to the general editor, Tom Holloway or the Asia Pacific Editor Thomas Kuan

Feel free to copy any or all of this information in your local newsletters.
Issue number 228 (January 2020) from the WorldU3A Service and the U3A Forum, and a 2-minute video about our projects may be found here >>>
U3A FORUM - January 5th, 12 Noon UK.
Our Guest Speaker is Lesley Keast of 'The Granny Cloud' -- an independent team of volunteers that reaches out to children all over the world (mostly India) who typically do not have access to adequate educational facilities. 'Grannies' interact with children in all kinds of settings. Sessions can be as short as 30 minutes; while others last up to an hour.

The term 'Granny' can be misleading! Grannies are of all ages, and there are both men and women, from all walks of life. What they have in common is a warm, encouraging, friendly approach and they use that to enable children to think, question and communicate. Most certainly NO LESSONS, but children learn a great deal and experience the world far removed from their own. To learn more click here>>>
TURKEY - Tazelenme (Refresher) Universities

Refresher University is Turkey's first university for older adults. It was founded as a response to support modern society's expectation for longer and healthier lives. If the quality of life is defined as older adults feeling good about themselves in old age or until the end of their lives despite their physical, psychological, and social problems, one of the first questions that arise is how to provide this quality of life.

The five groups of GeroAtlas60 + Refresher University use a 'lifelong learning' approach to this objective. The two-dimensional theoretical and practical curriculum provides older adults with knowledge related to their needs and also helps both genders to acquire new skills and competencies such as participation in cooking and knitting courses by males and study of home improvement and Do-it-Yourself (DIY) home repair and maintenance courses by females. Activating older adults' knowledge and skills in the mental, physical, and social realms offers the potential for enhancing the quality of life. Learn more here>>>

AIUTA - China, International Conference in April 2020
AIUTA and CAUA International Conference will be hosted by CAUA focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and U3A in Shanghai. It would be a great delight if other international delegates also speak on AI and U3A. All Information email Charles Liu - u3achina@163.com

Le CAUA organise la Conference Internationale de Shanghai avec l'AIUTA sur "L'intelligence artificielle et les Universites du Troisieme Age" les 27 et 28 avril 2020 Shanghai. Pour toutes informations demander Charles Liu u3achina@163.com
UK THIRD AGE TRUST - Australia visit

From Rhonda Weston, past Chair of U3A Asia Pacific Alliance and President of U3A Toowoomba, Queensland.
"It was our great pleasure this afternoon to meet Auriol Ainley, Chair of the UK Third Age Trust International Committee. Auriol is in Australia visiting family and while in Toowoomba arranged to meet. International U3A connections are so important and enable us to expand our knowledge and to share ideas.

"We had a delightful afternoon and we have made new international friendships. So pleased to have met you Auriol, thank you for visiting us."
CURRENT AFFAIRS GROUPS - the Robots are coming

Over the next decade, robots will enter the mainstream of retail. As countless robots work behind the scenes to stock shelves, serve customers, and deliver products to our doorstep, the speed of sales and delivery will accelerate and these changes are already underway. This article elaborates on how robots are entering the shops.

Back in 2016, Amazon announced Prime Air—the promise of drone delivery in 30 minutes or less. While critics remain doubtful, the head of the FAA’s drone integration department recently said that drone deliveries may be "a lot closer than skeptics think".

The U3A movement in India and several other asian countries is growing fast. So fast that WorldU3A is bringing back an earlier newsletter that ran for over a year, then stopped due to lack of input. The current issue under the banner 'U3A ASIA POST' has been launched and you can see it here>>>

U3A Online: A complete GEMs newsletter archive - produced every month by Jillian Reid -
pdf printouts of all prior editions can be found at www.u3aonline.org.au
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