Spotlight on Volunteering
Intergenerational programs offer so much more than just uniting our young students with older adults, it is about sharing values, experiences, and growth. Within the RSVP volunteer program, we offer 2 distinct ways to engage with our youth.
For the past 8 years we have been facilitating Pen Pal Projects between Branford Middle school and local seniors and a Veteran focused Pen Pal program with 5/6th grade students from the West Wood School in Hamden who write to Local Veterans. We cram as many letter exchanges as we can into the school year and always end with a face to face meeting of the students and their Pen Pals.
For two years, we have offered project support to students at the Slate school in North Haven. Volunteers assist students in reading and researching information about their self-chosen project. Our volunteers also draw from life’s experiences and knowledge to help students learn whatever they can to achieve their goals and learning objectives. No computers here!
For those that love to engage with growing minds, curiosity and wonder if one of these projects could be just for you. Think that kids spend far too much time on the computer, iPad, or cell phone, then these types of activities are where it’s at!
This year one student asked their Pen Pal what things were like before the year 2000. And in return we asked what its like to be in school with all these scary things going on across the country. Parents came to meet the veterans with whom their children had been writing to throughout the year, such pride and honor was displayed.
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