The Workers' Educational Association has offered education projects catering specifically for the needs of older learners aged 50+ for many years and the Learning Age Project (LAP) is our latest programme funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies.

The Workers' Educational Association has collaborated with Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company over the years to create many wonderful dance projects together and we are delighted to announce that "Body Wisdom" - a dance course with a difference is now extending its programme with new funding from the BBC Performing Arts Fund. "Body Wisdom" has run successfully over the past three years with a beautiful performance "Mapping Memories" in April this year.

Starts: 21st October 2011
Runs for: 6 Friday morning 10.am - 12 Noon.
Venue:  Echo Echo Dance Studio

Body Wisdom is a dance project designed specifically for those aged 50+ and rather than age being against you in terms of movement, it is used to your advantage to help inform the movement taking place.

The Association for Education and Ageing, Age Action Ireland &
Workers' Educational Association N I
& The New Dynamics of Ageing
Research Programme UK

present an international conference 20-22 March 2012

NEW DYNAMICS OF LEARNING AND AGEING:
RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE

at the National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUIM), Dublin

The WEA Learning Age Project (LAP) recently celebrated the achievements of older learners at an event in the Long Gallery, Stormont. The event held as part of Adult Learners Week allowed learners the opportunity to showcase their work and provided an opportunity to celebrate the talents of older people. The learners took centre stage at the event speaking about their experiences of the programme and showing digital stories they had produced . Joining in the celebrations were MLAs Chris Little and MIke Nesbitt who acknowledged the importance of later life learning and the work of the WEA.

The WEA were invited by Age NI to be a partner on a recent exciting digital storytelling project entitled: "Stories of our Age".

The project was aimed at older people living rurally and to give them the opportunity of having their voices heard on issues affecting them as they grew older. It also offered them the chance to develop some new skills using digital technology. This was not a prospect the participants were particularly looking forward to as many did not have much experience of working with computers. However with patience and perseverance, all the participants on the project developed a wonderful digital story. One participant has recently received a new lap top from her family and is delighted that she can now use it to create other digital stories for them.

The Association for Education and Ageing, Age Action Ireland &
Workers' Educational Association N I
& The New Dynamics of Ageing
Research Programme UK

present an international conference 20-22 March 2012

NEW DYNAMICS OF LEARNING AND AGEING:
RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE

at the National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUIM), Dublin

The Learning Age Project the WEA programme of learning for the over 50’s is proud to present two of its premiere drama groups in a production of Same Old Moon.

This is a joint production between Top Women from the Top of the Hill and The Happy Go Luckies from Creggan. Top Women formed in 2008 and have worked on two devised presentations using stories and memories from their own lives. They have also performed at conferences and at the WEA’s AGM.

The Happy Go Luckies were formed in 2009 and presented “One hundred Pounds to A Penny” – a true story of smuggling and intrigue from the war years, presented to the group by Josie McLaughlin one of the Happy’s members. They have also performed at open days in the community.

Mary Duddy WEA Tutor directs the dress rehearsal of Same Old Moon.

WEA's  Learning Age Project has linked up in partnership once again with Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company to create a wonderful unique dance project under the title "Body Wisdom". Participants have attended two courses as part of the LAP programme and it was decided this year to offer the participants the opportunity to create a new performance entitled "Mapping Memories".  The performance took place in the Foyle Arts Centre Dance Studio at UU Magee on Saturday 2nd April.

The Full Performance and Making of Videos can be found below:

Top Notes our music programme under the Learning Age Project for Older People certainly hit a high note on Monday night, 24th January 2011. The project celebrated all the wonderful musical abilitiy of the participants at a cafe style event held at the Verbal Arts Centre.

From October last year, participants on the TOP NOTES project have been working on learning and playing music as well as singing and more recently song writing with a range of younger players and singers. The project was orginally formulated by musician Martin Coyle from the band Balkan Alien Sound. The project has been funded by Derry City Council and The Atlantic Philanthropies. The performance evening hosted a wide range of music and songs with the participants playing to a packed house and both audience and participants alike really enjoyed the experience.

Then check out the

WEA PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT PROGRAMME

"Transitions"

WEA and Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company present “Memory of Place” A Dance Performance Project for Age 50+

Members of Body Wisdom with Learning Age Development Officer Sinead Devine

And Dancer Steve Batts (Artistic Director of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company)

The Learning Age Project (LAP) caters specifically for the needs of our older learners aged 50+.  WEA has collaborated with Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company over the years to create many wonderful projects together. The latest on the LAP project is “Body Wisdom” - a dance course with a difference. The course is specifically for those aged 50+ and rather than age being against you in terms of movement, it is used to your advantage to help inform the movement taking place. Now there is a new opportunity to develop this project to create an original dance performance piece.