People Stories

Positive Ageing & Elderly Care

Golden Age Journey

The ‘third age’: the best is still to come

Cheung Wai Ching never thought that turning 50 would open a whole new chapter of excitement in her life, let alone giving her a more cheerful and outgoing personality. "I feel very young at heart and there are many things waiting for me to explore,” Wai Ching said with delight.

Jointly run by The University of Hong Kong - Sau Po Centre on Ageing and five local social welfare organisations, the Jockey Club Golden Age Journey Project helps 50+ find a second career, take up volunteering and develop their interests.

“There are endless things to learn in life. Age should not stop us from taking on new projects. Quite the contrary, we should feel free to start anew.”

Wai Ching’s change began with her retirement. Previously a shy person, she signed up for a dance class under the Jockey Club Golden Age Journey Project after a friend told her about it. There she met a group of like-minded retirees as dancing filled her with renewed energy. She is now busy every day of the week, keeping herself entertained and socially active, dancing, hiking, learning photography and painting, and more.

According to government statistics, Hong Kong people are living longer and longer, with centenarians no longer a rarity. Those who are in their 50s and nearing retirement are in fact just beginning their ‘third age’. Since 2019, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has been funding The University of Hong Kong - Sau Po Centre on Ageing and five local social welfare organisations to run the Jockey Club Golden Age Journey Project. Designed for young-olds aged 50+, the one-stop service provides different programmes and resources to help pre-retirees or the newly retired to better plan their third age.

The Jockey Club Golden Age Journey Project provides a range of resources to help pre-retirees and the newly retired launch their third age. Cheung Wai Ching (second left), who is in her 50s, met a group of like-minded friends in a dance class under the project.

As examples, Happy Maker 360 and Hong Kong Auxiliary Professional Scheme are programmes designed for those who are keen to continue working. The two programmes match retired professionals with suitable small and medium-sized enterprises, social enterprises or NGOs, allowing them to use their extensive experience to serve others. Meanwhile, SAGEmatch and V-Work Together are especially set up for young-olds who are interested in volunteering, which is something that appeals to Wai Ching too. She hopes that the Jockey Club Golden Age Journey Project will keep growing so that her fellow 50+ friends can continue to explore their unlimited potential.

Did you know?

The global population is ageing rapidly due to low birth rates and increasing life expectancy. According to UN demographic data, the global population aged 65 years or older exceeded the population aged 5 years or younger for the first time in 2018, with the gap between the two groups widening ever since.

In developed regions, population ageing is happening faster – and markedly so. This has seen growing discussion of the ‘third age’, which refers to the ‘young-olds’ demographic in between middle age and old age. How the young-olds can continue to participate in society and how society can make use of their valuable experience will become increasingly important conversations in many cities.

Cheung Wai Ching (third left), who is in her 50s, says there are endless things to learn in life. She believes there is always more for one to explore so long as one stays young at heart.

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People Stories

Positive Ageing & Elderly Care

Golden Age Journey

The ‘third age’: the best is still to come

“There are endless things to learn in life. Age should not stop us from taking on new projects. Quite the contrary, we should feel free to start anew.”