A Washington DC community program is preparing senior volunteers to offer their time and attention to individuals seeking someone who will simply listen without charge.
The initiative, known as Friendship Bench DC, draws its inspiration from the original Friendship Bench program that began in Zimbabwe. The local version focuses on teaching mature volunteers the skills needed to provide compassionate listening services to community members who need emotional support through conversation.
The program emphasizes creating meaningful human connections by pairing trained older adults with people who are looking for someone to talk through their concerns or experiences in a supportive environment.
