At Downshall Primary School, immigrant students significantly improved their literacy and communication skills. These gains came not only from teachers but also through regular, purposeful interaction with older adults, according to CRPE. Such direct connections are crucial for development, helping young learners adapt and thrive within their intergenerational learning community.
Intergenerational programs consistently boost personal growth and community cohesion. Yet, public awareness and participation in these beneficial initiatives remain strikingly low. Despite overwhelming evidence of their efficacy in boosting literacy, social skills, and community cohesion, intergenerational programs are failing to scale because they haven't effectively translated existing neighborhood trust into widespread public awareness and participation.
Communities that strategically promote and integrate intergenerational practices, leveraging existing social capital like neighborhood trust, are poised to build more resilient and supportive environments; those that do not risk perpetuating societal fragmentation and missing opportunities for personal growth and community bonds.
What Are Intergenerational Programs?
Intergenerational programs create opportunities for different age groups to interact and learn together. Researchers identified fifteen distinct evidence-based intergenerational practices, according to PMC. These practices span various activities designed to foster mutual support and skill development within a community.
Many of these initiatives have long operational histories, proving their sustained impact. The REPRINTS program in Tama Ward, Kawasaki City, for instance, has been active for over 10 years, focusing on intergenerational health promotion, according to PubMed. This robust body of evidence, coupled with long-standing initiatives like REPRINTS, solidifies intergenerational practices as a well-researched field offering diverse, proven methods for fostering connection and personal growth—a resource society has yet to fully harness.
