DIXON CHIBANDA

One of the most reliable resources we have in Africa are grandmothers. Yes, grandmothers. Grandmothers are in every community. There are hundreds of them. And they don't leave their communities in search of greener pastures. So I thought, how about training grandmothers in evidence-based talk therapy, which they can deliver on a bench? Empower them with the skills to listen, to show empathy? Today, there are hundreds of grandmothers working in more than 70 communities. And in the last year alone, more than 30,000 people received treatment on the Friendship Bench from a grandmother in a community in Zimbabwe.

One the most reliable resources we have in Africa are grandmothers. Yes, grandmothers. And I thought, grandmothers are in every community. There are hundreds of them. And they don't leave their communities in search of greener pastures... the only time they leave is when they go to a greener pasture called heaven.

One of the most reliable resources we have in Africa are grandmothers. Yes, grandmothers. Grandmothers are in every community. There are hundreds of them. And they don't leave their communities in search of greener pastures. So I thought, how about training grandmothers in evidence-based talk therapy, which they can deliver on a bench? Empower them with the skills to listen, to show empathy? Today, there are hundreds of grandmothers working in more than 70 communities. And in the last year alone, more than 30,000 people received treatment on the Friendship Bench from a grandmother in a community in Zimbabwe.

One the most reliable resources we have in Africa are grandmothers. Yes, grandmothers. And I thought, grandmothers are in every community. There are hundreds of them. And they don't leave their communities in search of greener pastures... the only time they leave is when they go to a greener pasture called heaven.