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SESSION FEEDBACK

CREATING

SAFE SPACES

AND A SENSE OF BELONGING IN COMMUNITIES

TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.

WHAT WE DO

WHAT WE DO...

FRIENDSHIP BENCH

Our Approach

FBF's COMMUNITY
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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.

Partnerships

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

IMPACT TO DATE IN ZIMBABWE

LAST UPDATED (April 2025)

2 773

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TRAINED

821 632

CLIENTS SEEN ON

THE FRIENDSHIP

BENCH

926

ACTIVE

CKT SUPPORT

GROUPS

78%

REDUCTION

IN DEPRESSION

& SUICIDE

IDEATION

60%

IMPROVEMENT

IN QUALITY

OFLIFE

IMPACT

Melody Banda's Story - Friendship Bench Community Health Worker

My name is Melody Banda . I am a community health worker living in Chizivi, Marondera. I am 55 years old and have two daughters and...

Sep 30, 2024

Creating Safe Spaces: Thelma Chidamajaya’s Journey as a Mental Health Champion

My name is Thelma Chidamachaya from Harare, Highfields. I live with my parents in our family home. I am a mental health supporter under...

Aug 16, 2024

CONTACT

Registered PVO 12/21

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General Inquiries

4 Weale Road, Milton Park, Harare, ZImbabwe

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

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CREATING