Experience Corps
60 Years +
A school-based volunteering program to improve resilience
Implementation Guide
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The Experience Corps program is an intergenerational literacy intervention designed for elementary school children, typically in grades K–3. In this program, older adult volunteers (aged 50 and above) are placed in classrooms to provide one-on-one or small group reading support to students who are struggling with early literacy skills. The volunteers engage children through interactive reading sessions, phonics-based activities, and mentorship.
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The Experience Corp program benefits the volunteers and the students. For older adults, it strengthens resilience by providing mental engagement and social connection, which helps in ageing with higher adaptability
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Volunteering with Experience Corps helps build resilience in older adults by providing consistent cognitive, emotional, and social stimulation. Regular engagement in tutoring and mentoring activities activates brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which support executive function, memory, and emotional regulation. This repeated stimulation helps slow age-related cognitive decline and enhances mental agility. At the same time, being part of a structured, purposeful routine fosters a strong sense of identity and meaning, which buffers against stress and depression. Frequent social interaction with students, teachers, and fellow volunteers reduces isolation and strengthens emotional support systems.
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This is a low-risk intervention, as studies have found minimal evidence of harm. However, we recommend including adequate support systems to mitigate risks that may arise.
Best Practices
Cognitively-stimulating tasks: The volunteering role must include a cognitive component, social interaction, and goal-directed tasks to be effective.
Frequency: It is essential to set up the volunteering program for 2-3 days per week. This leads to stronger cognitive and social benefits for both adults and children.
Matching: When assigning volunteers to students, the implementor must ensure the role matches the volunteer’s interest as well as energy levels. This helps improve retention and can help volunteers feel more effective.
Volunteer Training: Ensuring volunteers receive a well-designed training program in literacy support and behaviour management has been shown to enhance their role.
Health and Accessibility: Adapting training and schedules to fit the needs of older adults (e.g., large-print materials, short sessions, transportation support) is crucial for inclusive participation.
Implementing Organisations
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![Inspiring Seniors]()
Inspiring Seniors
Inspiring Seniors Foundation a non-profit start-up focussed on active and healthy ageing of senior citizens so that longevity should be a gift, not a challenge. They focus on fostering intergenerational connections.
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AARP Foundation
The AARP Foundation operates in over 20 U.S. cities, engaging more than 2,000 senior adult volunteers annually who support 30,000+ students in under-resourced elementary schools.
⚠️ Disclaimer: We admire and draw inspiration from several leading organizations in this space. While some have collaborated with us, others are included here to highlight best practices and global efforts. Their logos are used respectfully for reference only, and we do not imply any formal partnership unless specifically stated.
Evidence Base
Research has shown that such volunteering can lead to lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially for people 65 and older. Functional MRI studies revealed increased activity in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus — the exact areas affected by cognitive ageing (Carlson et al., 2009). Volunteering can also reduce stress and increase positive feelings by releasing dopamine (Carlson et al., 2009; Rebok et al., 2004).