New Resource in the School System

“It takes a village to raise a child” is a familiar proverb. What if people in their third stage of life could systematically and intentionally help accompany children in growing up? What if, in doing so, they acquired new skills, shared those, and thus contributed to intergenerational understanding?

That is the core idea behind Seniorpartner in School. The nationwide network trains people in their third stage of life as mediators who serve as a volunteer resource in elementary schools, regularly facilitating “spaces for good solutions.” In this way, they establish a new role within schools - one that deliberately makes room for relationship-building and conflict resolution and serves as a supportive resource for both children and adults. Today, more than 1,300 Seniorpartners are active at nearly 450 schools across Germany.

As alv, we support the Seniorpartner in School national association as a backbone for the state-level organizations on their path toward further professionalization, growth, and effective advocacy. This partnership is guided by a curious question: What does it take to structurally embed successful approaches like this one - and turn them into a new norm?

Key facts:

* Duration: 2026–2028

* Location: Germany

* Co-funding: eleven