A Dublin Friendship Program Starts With Something in Common
A Brighter World · Dublin & Central Ohio edition
Illustrative photograph by Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels; not a Teen Buddy Program activity. Photo source.
An intergenerational friendship does not need a grand opening. It might begin with a conversation about music, a favorite place in Dublin, or a story someone has been waiting to tell.
The City of Dublin's Teen Buddy Program is built around that ordinary possibility. The city says teen volunteers are vetted and trained, then matched with older adults based on mutual interests and shared experiences. Matches take place each fall and continue through the school year. The program's stated aim is to reduce loneliness and isolation while giving both generations a stronger sense of belonging.
The thoughtful part is the match. A friendship can grow more naturally when two people have something to talk about beyond their ages. Keeping the pair connected for a school year also creates room for familiarity, rather than treating one visit as the whole relationship.
The city does not claim that every match has the same outcome, and this Journal has not interviewed participants. The encouraging idea is the structure: train young volunteers, listen to what each person enjoys, and make space for a connection that can develop over time. Readers interested in volunteering or learning about eligibility can start with the city's current volunteer page.