We are thrilled to announce a partnership between Friendship Bench and the Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs, two organisations that value the wisdom of Elders to support their communities.
The Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs’ mission is to build a global network of social entrepreneurs where Elders support one another and share their wisdom across the social entrepreneur ecosystem.
The Friendship Bench mission is to get people out of depression by creating safe spaces and a sense of belonging in communities to improve mental wellbeing and enhance quality of life. We achieve this by training the elders of the community - Grandmothers - to provide sustainable community-based support.
Together we will offer a ‘Friendship Bench for Social Entrepreneurs’ at the Ashoka Changemaker Summit 2024 in Hamburg, Germany (5-7th September). This partnership elegantly combines the skills and goals of each organisation with Elders of the social entrepreneur community offering support to the conference participants. Those visiting the bench will be able to bring any issues for discussion - from succession to struggles with day to day operations, from financial worries to well-being concerns.
The Elders of our joint Friendship Bench will provide a safe space, a listening ear and support (if wanted) to those sitting beside them.
Further Information:
Friendship Bench
Friendship Bench is non-profit organisation with the mission to get people out of depression by creating safe spaces and a sense of belonging in communities, to enhance mental wellbeing and improve peoples’ quality of life. Guided by our values of empathy and connection, and anchored in over a decade of rigorous research (including a RCT published in the Journal of American Medical Association, JAMA) we have re-imagined the delivery of evidence-based mental healthcare. We train community health workers (CHWs) also known as grandmothers / lay health workers to provide basic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with an emphasis on Problem Solving Therapy, activity scheduling and peer led group support. The CHWs sit with their clients outdoors, under the trees on wooden park benches in discreet safe spaces in the community. This task shifting approach means we can deliver an effective, affordable and sustainable solution to bridge the mental health treatment gap at a primary care level. To date, Friendship Bench has trained over 2 000 community health workers, seen more than 575 893 clients, established 688 peer support groups and is active in over 288 primary health care settings. Our impact, published in JAMA, showed 80% reduction in depression and suicide ideation, and a 60% improvement in quality of life.
For further details please contact Providence Jongwedzvuku (Media and Communications Manager): providence.jongwe@friendshipbench.io
Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs
The Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs is a non-profit organisation, sharing the wisdom of Elder Social Entrepreneurs for the benefit of every generation. We are a global network where elders support one another, and younger social entrepreneurs, to navigate common challenges including succession and transition, ensuring a legacy of sustainable impact and securing financial provision for later life. In order to support social entrepreneurs, the Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs will soon be launching the Wisdom Bank.
For further details please contact Katelynne Kirk (Communications Officer): katelynne@elderscouncil.net
Ashoka Changemaker Summit 2024
The Changemaker Summit is Ashoka’s largest global gathering of changemakers. Every year, Ashoka brings together their global community of Ashoka Fellows and other changemakers to explore the most pressing issues of our time and together build a society in which everyone can contribute, participate, and actively engage in social change for the good of all.
The agenda includes plenary sessions, round tables, workshops, private meetings and social gatherings. This next Changemaker Summit is the 6th edition of this yearly event, and it will be held on September 5-7th 2024, in partnership with the City of Hamburg in Germany. More information about the Changemaker Summit 2024.
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