U3A is a self-help educational organisation open to anyone no longer in full-time employment who wishes to keep the brain alive and be active after middle age by taking part in all kinds of educational, creative and social activities.  It provides meaningful activities to senior citizens.

u3a consists of a nationwide and international network of autonomous bodies which are recognized for their contribution to adult education and activities.

U3A Johannesburg is a member of the national and international U3A bodies.  It is a non-profit organization.  Non of the office bearers or committee are paid a salary.  It exists to provide meaningful activities to members including contribution to the community.  It compiles annual accounts which are presented at the AGM.  Committee members are also elected at the AGM.  U3A Johannesburg was established over 20 years ago. 

We have courses, outings, activities and monthly meetings.  All of these are led by voluntary leaders within U3A Johannesburg.  There is often a small charge to cover the costs of the event.  

At the monthly meeting, we have speakers usually from outside U3A.  This is free to all members.  Visitors are charged R40.

NO!

You only have to have the desire to learn or join in the various activities.

There are no entry qualifications (except that you are no longer in full-time employment) and there are no barriers.

No.

Most of our activities take place during the day on Mondays to Fridays so are aimed at those who are retired or partially retired.

No.

Everything is delightfully informal.  We meet for the sheer enjoyment of learning and other activities.  There are no exams or tests.

It stands for University of the Third Age.  University refers to learning in general and is informal.  It should not be confused with a university institution.

Early in 2001 I heard about U3A in London and then again in Cape Town on my return. Immediately I contacted Sylvia Shrire, who had started U3A in Cape Town the year before, and visited her. She had heard from 3 people in Johannesburg. Returning home, I contacted all 3. Only Maureen Spiro was interested and had indeed thought about sending messages to Wits alumni. I invited her to my home to discuss and we decided to form a steering committee.

We invited Helen Ofsowitz and Janet Dickman. Next Maud Goedhuys and then in July Beryl Unterhalter joined, and subsequently others including Colin Roberts who helped set up the website and did all IT work.

We spent several months of weekly meetings planning. We put up notices in pharmacies, libraries, on notice boards; we gave talks, circulated brochures, made announcements at meetings such as DARTS, etc. We secured a slot on Classic FM and advertised in the Caxton newspapers and the Sowetan. I was interviewed on radio for Women Today; later Maureen on TV. We had R900 in the kitty (of which R500 was a loan from U3A Cape Town).

The launch was held on 3rd July at St Martin’s in the Veld Church hall. Maureen organised publicity in newspapers, and with photographers. Helen took money in a shoebox. We invited Hilary Semple to be the first speaker and tea was served. At that first meeting, we lobbied for and advertised several courses by means of flip charts, and by the end of the year, there were 36 courses operative with over 360 members. Early on we opened a bank account.

Very soon we moved to the hall at Randjeslaagte, and, having outgrown that, a few years later Beryl arranged the present home at the Rosebank Union Church. The constitution was adopted in 2003 and a logo designed by Maureen’s daughter.

The committee changed over the years as people retired or moved and, sadly some died. Long-serving members were myself, Maureen, Beryl, Maud. Colin Roberts and then Shelagh Parker, Marlene Armstrong, Beryl Howard, Coragh Bedford Shaw, Hugh Corder, Sharon Hasty and Sheila Bruckman. Over time members included Andrew Pearce and Geoff Tibbitts, who have contributed immeasurably on IT, newsletter issues, events, outings and in other ways. There are several newer members now on the committee, and very many others who have been active in subcommittees and different capacities. Due to constraints of space, I cannot name them all.

Over the years we have had innumerable course leaders. Popular and longstanding courses have been hiking, learning the computer, Shakespeare, poetry, art, history, philosophy, creative writing and so many more. We employed an examiner of accounts, and had volunteers serving tea and baking biscuits and generally helping in many ways.

Marlene Armstrong took over from Maud Goedhuys sourcing speakers for our hugely popular monthly meetings, and our numbers, for Johannesburg U3A alone, grew to over 1,000.

During the earlier years, I helped set up all but one of the other U3As in Johannesburg and even further afield. Maureen continued to provide publicity and she and Beryl worked as a team on all they did – which was considerable. Beryl was very active in obtaining courses – most recently with Rohan Quince- and in outreach: donations, organising knitting for needy babies, and remedial teaching through The Link. We give yearly donations to various causes such as The Link and Baragwanath Comfort Society.

We previously posted course lists and newsletters, and a team worked together to put these in envelopes. Later we used email, and of course, with lockdown, Zoom. As we expanded Hugh Corder with his team, including Beryl Howard and Ken Norman and others, organised day outings and even trips further afield. More recently Geoff Tibbitts took over this role and we are sending out notices of interesting events countrywide as well.

The U3A team work has been phenomenal and my sincere apologies to all those unmentioned who have made this possible, whom I think of with enormous gratitude!  Together we have made U3A a phenomenon - a huge contribution to helping retired people to find meaning in their lives.  A most heartfelt thanks to everyone for 20 years of dedicated enthusiasm and hard work! 

Marcia Leveson

mleveson@icon.co.za