China has a large number of U3As in the world with about 8 million members, and 10,000 elderly colleges and universities. U 3rd Age visited the Beijing Shijingshan Community College (www.sjsyd.com.cn) on 3 September 2018 as part of a later life learning group.

The College has excellent facilities for its 13, 000 students in non-formal learning in arts and crafts, traditional Chinese medicines, music, dances, cooking and intergenerational bonding activities. One of its oldest students at age 80+ years-old achieved a national award for his lifelong learning efforts. This confirms the vibrant and vitality of third age learners in China, with aspirations to achieve its 2020 Learning Society.

Kumari Twailai, 72, of Bhaktapur district is busy in selling homegrown vegetables in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nepal.

Twailai said, “Even though I don’t need to work hard for my livelihood, I prefer to engage in something rather than sitting at home doing nothing. It makes me proud and happy,” she added. (Reprint from the Kathmandu September 2018 Issue of Voice of Senior citizens).

ASTRONOMY/SCI-TECH GROUPS

A series of ten free lessons by retired mathematician David Butler covering what is currently known about the solar system and beyond. Lots of maths.

Recommended - this is serious stuff, wonderfully free of the usual "gee-whiz" style, and there is also an option for a narrated version without music.

THE VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE (vU3A) is based on the premise that eventually we will all reach the stage where physical problems mean that we are unable to attend meetings and may become lonely and isolated. Our activities take place on a private members only wiki for a subscription of £12 a year. We also have a public website https://www.vu3a.org where you can get details of how it all works and sign up for our free newsletter.

We are a world-wide organisation with third-agers from France, Canada and Australia, and at the same time we are the only virtual U3A affiliated to the UK-wide Third Age Trust. To learn more just click here>>>

It is with great pleasure we announce the ‘U3A-INDIA’ is organising an International Conference at Bengaluru, India on 26th & 27th of October 2018. This is in line with, which we had committed to the U3A Asia Pacific Alliance at Osaka, Japan during the conference held in October 2016. This conference will be held at the venue - “Art of Living” Bengaluru. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Gurudev has kindly accepted to inaugurate the Conference and also present a Key-note address to the Conference. For further details please click here>>>

To commemorate U3A-INDIA international conference, we are bringing out a “Souvenir” carrying the articles related to the theme of the conference by eminent Educationists, Scientists, Practicing Doctors and others. Through this communication, we are requesting the Corporate Organisations, Philanthropic Institutions and other like-minded individuals to extend financial support through sponsoring advertisement in the souvenir.

Find out how to get involved in “Ageing Equal,” a 7-week campaign against Ageism initiated by AGE Platform Europe to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Launch date is October 1, which is the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP). The campaign adds grist to the World Health Organization's constant drive to beat ageism and everyone can contribute. See how here: Guide for Supporters.