In recent months, a concept from the United States has appeared in French schoolyards: friendship benches. These facilities promote mutual aid between children. We enlighten you.
All over France, several primary schools welcome completely new courses in their classes: “the benches of friendship”. We can’t miss them. Colored and decorated by the students according to their tastes, or sometimes by the teachers and parents, they embellish the exteriors. But behind this pretty aestheticism hides a goal very precise, that of promote mutual aid among all children.
The principle is quite simple. When a child is feeling lonely, being laughed at or having had a bad day, he can sit on this bench. From then on, his little friends will immediately understand that he needs help, they will join him, talk to him, support him or invite him to play with them. With this device, each child gradually learns what thealtruism, the kindness and the respect for each other.
An initiative from the United States
If the benches of friendship are appearing in France in recent months, in the United States on the other hand, they have existed for several years already. The first was installed in 2012. Initially, the idea emerged in the mind of Acacia Woodley, a 10-year-old girl, who had just moved to Florida. Shunned by the students of her new school and the victim of mockery and intimidation, she decided to create a special bench to help others no longer feel excluded.
“From day one a very popular girl started being mean to me and for a few months there was a whole bunch of mean girls. I was really unhappy. I didn’t have any friends and I didn’t want to. not go to school. Eventually I decided to take the problem into my own hands. I invited her over to my house and asked her why she was so mean. We talked for a long time. I found out that a lot of bad things were going on for her at home. It made me realize that bullies need help too. “, she tells the media Itsallpink.
Today, in France, in La Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée), in Floure (Aude, in Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur (Côte-d’Or) or in Lespignan (Hérault), benches of friendship are installed and do good to children.
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