THE UNIVERSITY THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE OF THE THIRD AGE OF KOŚCIERZYNAOF KOŚCIERZYNA

The old age does not The old age does not have to mean staying at have to mean staying at

home and leading home and leading

non-active life.non-active life.

It is the period of life It is the period of life when you can realize when you can realize your dreams and new your dreams and new

ideas.ideas.

One of the feature of the One of the feature of the contemporary society is an ageing contemporary society is an ageing society. This is the situation which society. This is the situation which

we have in Poland.we have in Poland.

Ageing is not only the biological Ageing is not only the biological process but above all the process but above all the psychological process. psychological process.

It is important to make older people join to It is important to make older people join to the system of constant education, the system of constant education,

maintain their intellectual, psychological maintain their intellectual, psychological and physical activation.and physical activation.

The U3A is the most popular form of The U3A is the most popular form of education and stimulation of retired education and stimulation of retired

members of community. members of community.

THE U3A AIMS:THE U3A AIMS:

• popularipopularization ofzation of educational initiatives, educational initiatives,

• intellectual, psychological, public and physical activation intellectual, psychological, public and physical activation of older of older people,people,

• expanding the knowledge and abilities of seniors,expanding the knowledge and abilities of seniors,

• facilitating contacts with such institutions like the Health facilitating contacts with such institutions like the Health Service, community centres, with rehabilitation and other Service, community centres, with rehabilitation and other centres,centres,

• involving listeners in the activity for the circle surrounding involving listeners in the activity for the circle surrounding

them,them,

• sustaining social bonds and the interpersonal sustaining social bonds and the interpersonal communication amongst seniors.communication amongst seniors.

In Poland three types of In Poland three types of Universities of the Third Age Universities of the Third Age

are are establishedestablished::• under patronage of the university, under patronage of the university,

• apointed by the assiociation interested in apointed by the assiociation interested in academic for the general public activity,academic for the general public activity,

• acting by community centres, libraries and acting by community centres, libraries and social welfare centressocial welfare centres

The University of the Third The University of the Third Age in KościerzynaAge in Kościerzyna

The U3A of Kościerzyna works with The U3A of Kościerzyna works with the Kashubian Institute for the Kashubian Institute for

Development which raises finansial Development which raises finansial resources resources

for the U3A .for the U3A .

The Kashubian Institute for The Kashubian Institute for DevelopmentDevelopment

www.kir.org.plwww.kir.org.pl

Finansing of the U3A Finansing of the U3A of Kościerzynaof Kościerzyna

• 1st edition 1st edition 20042004: : Polish-American Polish-American Freedom FundationFreedom Fundation

• 2nd edition 2nd edition 2007:Pomeranian 2007:Pomeranian Province OfficeProvince Office

• 3rd, 4th edition 3rd, 4th edition 2008 i 2008 i 20092009: : Kościerzyna’s District Government Kościerzyna’s District Government and City of Kościerzynaand City of Kościerzyna

The classes areThe classes are free free !!!!!!

Everyone can join!!!Everyone can join!!!

In 2008 there were more In 2008 there were more than than 140 people.140 people.

This year from February to This year from February to June there were more thanJune there were more than

6060 students!!! students!!!

Assumed results for U3A:Assumed results for U3A:• Organising free time for fully fit and disabled seniors,Organising free time for fully fit and disabled seniors,

• Developing comunication skills,Developing comunication skills,• Making contacts and friendshipsMaking contacts and friendships

• Integration of fully fit and disabled people,Integration of fully fit and disabled people,• Organization of tripsOrganization of trips

• Improvement in the physical fitnes,Improvement in the physical fitnes,• Knowledge acquisition from the scope of a healthy lifestyle’Knowledge acquisition from the scope of a healthy lifestyle’

• Acquiring basic computer skills,Acquiring basic computer skills,• Getting to know the basic German and English vocabulary,Getting to know the basic German and English vocabulary,

• Solving legal problems of seniors,Solving legal problems of seniors,• Preparing the stage play,Preparing the stage play,

• Getting to know some Kashubian songs.Getting to know some Kashubian songs.

Older people often feel lonely and Older people often feel lonely and useless. Most of the time they spend useless. Most of the time they spend at home. Noticing this problem The at home. Noticing this problem The

Kashubian Institute for Development Kashubian Institute for Development initiated The University of The Third initiated The University of The Third

Age of Kościerzyna where both fully fit Age of Kościerzyna where both fully fit and disabled seniors can spend their and disabled seniors can spend their free time in the interesting way, they free time in the interesting way, they can acquire knowledge and establish can acquire knowledge and establish

contact with other people.contact with other people.

Forms of spending the leisure Forms of spending the leisure time:time:

• Poetic-theatre classes,Poetic-theatre classes,

• Gym classes,Gym classes,

• Computer workshops,Computer workshops,

• English language and German language courses,English language and German language courses,

• Legal advices,Legal advices,

• Musical evening parties,Musical evening parties,

• Trips,Trips,

• Thematic meetings,Thematic meetings,

• Regional workshops,Regional workshops,

• Christmas Eve supper,Christmas Eve supper,

• Popular-scientific lectures.Popular-scientific lectures.

Regional workshops: Regional workshops: painting on glasspainting on glass

Foreign Foreign languageslanguages

Thematic meetings:Thematic meetings:

TripsTrips::

Musical evening parties:Musical evening parties:

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve supper:supper:

Computer workshops:Computer workshops:

Poetic-Theatre meetings:Poetic-Theatre meetings:

All classes as part of the All classes as part of the University of the Third Age University of the Third Age of Kościerzyna are helping of Kościerzyna are helping older persons to become older persons to become

active members of the local active members of the local community as well as they community as well as they are promoting healthy and are promoting healthy and

active active lifestyle.lifestyle.

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention.attention.