Discussing Solitude and Isolation
In the heart of Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, a new social initiative has been making waves since August - the Chat Bench. This global phenomenon, which encourages casual conversations between strangers, has found a home in the RheinBerg Gallery.
The idea for the Chat Bench originated in England in 2018 and has since spread across the globe. In Bergisch Gladbach, it arrived six years later, with Hajo Tiefenstäдter, a member of the board of the Volunteer Exchange RheinBerg e.V., leading the charge. Tiefenstädter, excited about the project, sought alternative locations for the chat corner and found contact with Angelika Assenmacher, the manager of the RheinBerg Gallery.
Every Wednesday, from 2 PM to 4 PM, volunteers, known as "chatterers," gather at the Chat Bench in the RheinBerg Gallery. These volunteers do not offer professional help, but engage in casual conversations, aiming to combat loneliness, particularly among older people.
The flyers next to the bench direct to hotlines and other support services for professional help or serious topics. The Paritätischer Welfare Association and the Volunteer Exchange provide these flyers. Volunteers receive training from the paritaetische welfare association on how to handle heavy topics.
The sign next to the bench identifies it as the "Chat Bench of the Volunteer Exchange, supported by the RheinBerg Gallery." There was previously only one Chat Bench in Bergisch Gladbach, located in the Park of Villa Zanders. However, with the addition of the new Chat Bench in the RheinBerg Gallery, citizens now have two opportunities to engage in conversation.
The Chat Bench is open from October to April during the RheinBerg Gallery's opening hours on Wednesdays. As the winter months approach, more listeners and "chatterers" are needed to further establish the bench. Volunteers can sign up via the Volunteer Exchange website or at the business office in the Gemeindebuero of the Gnadenkirche.
Both in England and in Bergisch Gladbach, the Chat Bench serves as a means of combating loneliness and offers a casual exchange for all interested parties. Public figures have been invited for "chat sessions" in other cities. In Bergisch Gladbach, Mayor Frank Stein was recently spotted chatting with Hajo Tiefenstädter at the new Chat Bench.
The Chat Bench initiative in Bergisch Gladbach is part of a larger movement, with the idea being further developed in other cities worldwide. As the project continues to grow, it offers a beacon of hope for those seeking connection in their community.
- The Chat Bench, an initiative aimed at combating loneliness, has expanded its presence in Bergisch Gladbach, now offering a casual conversation space in the RheinBerg Gallery, extending beyond the original location in the Park of Villa Zanders.
- In line with its global mission, the Chat Bench in the RheinBerg Gallery supports mental health and wellness, particularly offering older individuals an opportunity to engage in lifestyle discussions and foster connections.
- As the Chat Bench movement continues to evolve worldwide, it is further developing in various cities, including home-and-garden revolutions, encouraging society to prioritize health-and-wellness and the human connection essential for maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
