At this year’s Festival of the Third Age (F3ŽO), we once again felt and celebrated the power of lifelong learning. Under the slogan We are all one generation, the festival reached out to everyone. More than 150 choral, dance and musical performances, over 40 free educational events and workshops, 11 expert discussions, 16 conversations in the festival café and more than 150 exhibition stands and corners showcasing products and services for active ageing shaped the rich and varied programme.
In the first foyer, at the SIAE and partners’ exhibition stand, we presented inspiring stories and learning opportunities from the LLW, as well as the portal Lahko.si and the Where to Get Knowledge platform. Visitors discovered how knowledge and intergenerational cooperation can enrich life at every level. Through a prize game, they got to know the Lahko.si portal. The atmosphere was informative and relaxed, full of laughter, curiosity and warm handshakes with partners and acquaintances.
Adult learners joined us in spreading the power and joy of learning. Among them were recipients of the SIAE Awards. Those who shared their inspiring learning stories included participants from the University of the Third Age (U3A), the Faculty of Active Wisdom at the Education Centre, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Marjetka Popovski from Izola, Marija Metlika from Ljubljana, Jana Turk Šulc of the Šmarje pri Jelšah Library and residents of the Draga Education, Work and Care Centre from Ig.
Participation in the Festival of the Third Age enables us to present our work and activities – particularly educational and cultural content on our library’s YouTube channel – beyond the borders of our local environment. At the same time, it brings valuable opportunities for meeting partners, networking and gaining new ideas and knowledge. We remain deeply grateful to the SIAE and, this year, also to the Ministry of Education for their trust and for the opportunity to take part.
LLW providers, the Learning Parade and Lahko.si from Jesenice, Kranj AEC and the Šmarje pri Jelšah Library led visitors in a lively rhythm through their diverse adult learning offer. Visitors were also inspired by members of the Study Circle Lipovci, who, under the slogan We learn and we teach others, have been reviving traditional basket weaving at Murska Sobota AEC for nine years and supporting the intergenerational transfer of knowledge.
As U3A representatives, we were once again reminded at the Festival of the Third Age how precious the connection between generations and organisations can be. The response from visitors was exceptionally encouraging – their interest, smiles and genuine curiosity filled us with renewed enthusiasm for our work.
In cooperation with guidance centres from Kranj, Novo mesto, Murska Sobota and Ljubljana, a lively programme once again unfolded in the guidance corner at our exhibition stand. The counsellors presented learning and education in an engaging and accessible way, bringing them even closer to different groups of adults and encouraging participation in a variety of educational programmes. There was particular interest in computing and foreign languages, as well as in developing skills for working in nature.
Participating at the SIAE exhibition stand during the Festival of the Third Age was both pleasant and inspiring. Visitors showed great interest in discovering their strengths and linking them with opportunities for further learning. Among the many interesting answers to the question “What new thing will you learn next year?” one honest and beautiful response stood out – patience. Thank you for the opportunity to take part.
In the expert section of the festival, the SIAE hosted a round table titled Opportunities for Lifelong Learning in the Third and Fourth Stages of Life. It was moderated by our colleague Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, MSc. Experts and practitioners discussed various forms of literacy and presented programmes that open new pathways to knowledge, social interaction and a higher quality of life for older people in Slovenia.
Mateja Pečar (mateja.pecar@acs.si), SIAE