Seniors and children, united by reading

When seniors and children meet thanks to On Senior’s Side and the Ligue de l’enseignement de Paris

Last July, our Foundation had the pleasure of welcoming Laetitia Brunet, patron of the Lire et Faire Lire (Read and Make Read) project, and Anne-Sophie Moreau, in charge of sponsorship for the Paris Federation of the Ligue de l’enseignement (League of Education). This event provided an opportunity to reflect on a project that, for 25 years, has connected seniors and children through reading.

Lire et Faire Lire mobilizes senior volunteers to read stories to children, from preschool to elementary school. The objectives are multiple: to combat illiteracy, develop children's imagination and curiosity, while creating a strong social bond between generations. Seniors also benefit from this experience: it provides them with social, physical, and mental well-being, thanks to complementary activities such as gentle exercise, hikes, and storytelling walks.

For Laetitia, who became a godmother of the project with the support of the Foundation, this program is a source of pride and commitment:

"What I really liked about this project is the intergenerational link it highlights, between such extreme generations as seniors and children."

According to Anne-Sophie Moreau, the partnership between the Ligue de l’enseignement de Paris and the On Senior’s Side Foundation was a natural fit: the project's objectives align perfectly with those of both organizations. For the Ligue, it's about promoting education and the sharing of knowledge; for the Foundation, it's about highlighting the role of seniors in society and encouraging their social and cultural engagement.

The visit from Laetitia and Anne-Sophie provided an opportunity to emphasize the project's tangible impact: each reading session fosters curiosity, a love of reading, and intergenerational connections. Teachers also observe improvements in students' vocabulary and attention spans, while the senior volunteers gain self-esteem and a greater sense of purpose.