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CREATING

SAFE SPACES

AND A SENSE OF BELONGING IN COMMUNITIES

TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.

Rooted in Zimbabwe Recognised Across the World

Friendship Bench receives the 2025–2026 KBF Africa Prize

Friendship Bench has been awarded the King Baudouin Foundation Africa Prize for expanding access to affordable, evidence-based mental health care through a community-led approach.

This recognition celebrates the grandmothers, community health workers and communities at the heart of our work. It affirms what continues to drive us: when trusted community members have the skills to support others, mental health care becomes more accessible, more human and part of everyday life.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

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WHAT WE DO

WHAT WE DO...

FRIENDSHIP BENCH

Our Approach

FBF's COMMUNITY
Join Us!

NEED TO TALK?
Free Mental Health Care

CIRCLE KUBATANA TOSE

Peer-Led Support Groups

SET UP THE FRIENDSHIP BENCH
Partnerships

EVIDENCE and RESEARCH

Our Anchor

WHO WE ARE...

The Friendship Bench provides sustainable community based psychological interventions that are evidence based, accessible and scalable.

OUR MISSION

Get People Out of Depression

OUR VISION

A Friendship Bench Within Walking Distance For All

OUR VALUES

Empathy & Connection

Anchored in Research

MORE ABOUT US...

WHO WE ARE

Vison, Mission, Values

OUR EVIDENCE...

“If we can't measure what we're doing then we really don't know if it's working."

Dixon Chibanda

A Randomized Clinical Trial

ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION

Effect of a Primary Care–Based Psychological Intervention on Symptoms of Common Mental Disorders in Zimbabwe

Dixon Chibanda, MD1; HelenA. Weiss, DPhil2; Ruth Verhey, MSc1; Victoria Simms, PhD2; Ronald Munjoma, SLC1; Simbarashe Rusakaniko, PhD1; Alfred Chingono, MSc3; Epiphania Munetsi, MPhil1; Tarisai Bere, BA1; Ethel Manda, BSc1; Melanie Abas, MD4; Ricardo Araya, PhD5

SEE MORE OF OUR RESEARCH...

RESEARCH

TAKE ACTION

TAKE ACTION!

BE A PART OF THE CHANGE

WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

ONE BENCH

AT A TIME

Help us achieve our vision of a Friendship Bench within walking distance for all. We all have a part to play. No matter the community you are in.

TOGETHER WE CAN HAVE GREAT IMPACT

Friendship Bench Friends

Everyone should have access to resources when in need! Join us! Reach out, connect, inspire hope!

WANT TO IMPLEMENT?

For more info on setting up Friendship Bench in your community.

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Looking to be a partner and to set up a Friendship Bench?

IMPACT TO DATE IN ZIMBABWE

LAST UPDATED (October 2026)

3 000

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TRAINED

1,290,861

CLIENTS SEEN ON

THE FRIENDSHIP

BENCH

985

ACTIVE

CKT SUPPORT

GROUPS

88%

REDUCTION

IN DEPRESSION

& SUICIDE

IDEATION

60%

IMPROVEMENT

IN QUALITY

OFLIFE

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IMPACT

RECENT POSTS...

LATEST NEWS

The Evolution of Friendship Bench: Two Decades of Community-Led Mental Health Care in Zimbabwe

The Evolution of Friendship Bench: Two Decades of Community-Led Mental Health Care in Zimbabwe

The Evolution of Friendship Bench: Two Decades of Community-Led Mental Health Care in Zimbabwe

Over the past two decades, the Friendship Bench has evolved from a small-scale research initiative into a nationally embedded, government-owned model for delivering accessible mental health care in Zimbabwe. Its trajectory reflects a deliberate progression in program delivery, from proof of concept to real-world validation, to structured scale-up and ultimately to system integration through phased technical assistance and government transition. The model was initially develop

May 28

Friendship Bench Appoints Dr. Esther Tumbare As Chief Executive Officer

Friendship Bench Appoints Dr. Esther Tumbare As Chief Executive Officer

Friendship Bench Appoints Dr. Esther Tumbare As Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Esther Tumbare Friendship Bench is pleased to announce the appointment of Esther Tumbare as its new Chief Executive Officer,...

Aug 7, 2025

Grief and Healing Through the Bench

Grief and Healing Through the Bench

Grief and Healing Through the Bench

"A Grandfather Helped Me To Find My Laugh Again" I sat on the Bench shortly after my mother’s passing. I had been planning for the...

Jun 9, 2025

CONTACT

Registered PVO 12/21

CONNECT

General Inquiries

4 Weale Road, Milton Park, Harare, ZImbabwe

OFFICE HOURS // MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM-4PM

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