The Friendship Bench Wins 2025 Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award

Friendship Bench
Mar 11
3 min read

We are proud to share that "The Friendship Bench: How Fourteen Grandmothers Inspired a Mental Health Revolution," written by our founder Prof. Dixon Chibanda, has received the 2025 Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award presented by BookPal in the First-Year Experience (FYE) category.

This recognition celebrates books that are shaping conversations in universities and communities around the world. Winning in the FYE category means the book has been recognized as an important resource for university students beginning their academic journeys; books that encourage reflection, dialogue and new ways of thinking about the world.

The recognition places The Friendship Bench among books selected by educators and institutions to support conversations about social challenges and community-based solutions.

What is the OWL Award?

The OWL Awards, presented by BookPal, are uniquely focused on celebrating books that are actively shaping society. These awards recognize works that have the power to influence how organizations operate, how educators teach, and how communities understand and pursue wellbeing.

The judges are not only looking for bestsellers; they are seeking "outstanding" works that are distinguished, one-of-a-kind inspirational books that turn a conversation into a culture shift. For The Friendship Bench to be recognized in this capacity, it's a validation of the message that began on a single wooden bench in Mbare, Harare.

Why The Friendship Bench was recognized

The OWL Award judges highlighted the book for its combination of storytelling and practical application. They noted:

"This will restore your faith in humanity. With powerful storytelling and real evidence, Chibanda demonstrates that dedication and community support can change lives without overcomplicating what people need most. This is the kind of book that will turn a campus conversation into a campus culture shift."

This accolade speaks directly to the core of what the Friendship Bench is about. It’s the story of how Prof. Dixon Chibanda, faced with the overwhelming gap in mental health care in Zimbabwe, realized the solution was the abundance of compassion, trust, and lived wisdom already present within our communities, specifically among our older women.

They were trained in evidence-based problem-solving therapy and began offering support on wooden benches outside clinics and community spaces.

From its early beginnings in Harare, the Friendship Bench model has expanded to support more than one million people experiencing depression, anxiety, and other common mental health challenges.

Recognizing the Grandmothers

This recognition also reflects the work of the grandmothers the fourteen pioneers and the thousands who have since joined the movement. They are the true carriers of connection and empathy, proving every day that human connection is the bedrock of resilience. They continue to support individuals and families in their communities. Today, the Friendship Bench approach is being implemented in 13 countries, adapting to different contexts while maintaining its foundation in community connection and care. The grandmothers have provided support to over a million people.

From its roots in Zimbabwe, this simple, human solution is now addressing the loneliness epidemic on continents across the world. The award comes at a time when interest in community-based mental health solutions continues to grow.

Friendship Bench remains committed to its vision: A Friendship Bench within walking distance for all.

Read the story

If you haven’t read the story yet, you can purchase "The Friendship Bench: How Fourteen Grandmothers Inspired a Mental Health Revolution" at major booksellers.

Link to purchase: https://www.dixonchibanda.com/
Learn more about our global expansion and the Friendship Bench In A Box, supporting communities around the world in implementing the model.

Share with your network

Celebrate this achievement with us by sharing this story. Spread the word about this Zimbabwean-born innovation and the grandmothers whose work continues to transform communities.

People need support, with your help we can reach out to more people. We invite you to:

Donate: Your contributions can help us expand our reach and support more people.
Support a grandmother: For $25 a month, you can empower a grandmother to continue this vital work. Our goal is to support 4000 grandmothers in 2026.
Spread the word: Help us raise awareness by sharing with your friends and family.