Program Benefits

Through decades of program evaluation and research, we have identified the following benefits for students, teachers, volunteers and the community

Student Benefits

• Increase in self-esteem

• Increase in knowledge, skills, and learning

• Increase in understanding and appreciation of aging and older people

• Decrease in the stereotypes of aging and older adults

• New, positive connections and meaningful relationships with older people

• Addition of supportive, positive role models

• Additional support for students requiring extra attention

• Increase in historical perspective

• Increased sense of connection with the community
   

Teacher Benefits

• Increased time to teach 

• Freedom to provide one-on-one attention to students who need it

• Increased support in the realization of their professional goals

• Enhancement to their lesson plan or curriculum

• Increased respect, understanding, and appreciation for their job

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Volunteer Benefits

• Increased satisfaction and purpose

• Enhanced self-esteem.

• Addition of new, positive meaningful relationships with children and professionals within the community. 

• An understanding and acceptance of today’s youth. 

• Opportunities to transfer knowledge, skills, and values to the next generation.

• A reduction in the sense of isolation 

• An increase in the stimulation of mental capacities

• An increase in the connections within the community

• Rekindling the joy of learning and living

• Continued involvement in the community creating alliances with those who have children in the schools and those who do not

Community Benefits

• The creation of bonds between older adults and students

• Dispelling stereotypes that seniors may have of the younger generation, and vice versa, creating a feeling of comfort between generations

• Local partnerships between families, schools, businesses, community, and religious groups which has been proven to raise student achievement, and create and sustain safe communities

• Increase in opportunities for youth and older adults to both give and receive support

• Prevention of unnatural age segregation, which increases community awareness about issues that affect both young and old

• Facilitation of community collaboration, pooling of resources, and encouraging cooperative problem solving

• Promoting an appreciation for rich cultural heritage, traditions, and stories