How a Simple Bench Is Fighting Loneliness Across German Cities
A unique initiative, 'Zuhören draußen', is gaining traction across North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in Düsseldorf four years ago, it aims to combat loneliness by facilitating conversations between strangers. The project, now a registered nonprofit, has expanded to 11 cities, with political support from Minister-President Hendrik Wüst.
The initiative started with 12 listening benches in Düsseldorf in early 2024, growing to 16 by November 2025. It has since expanded to cities like Münster, Essen, Gladbeck, Dinslaken, and more. Dinslaken hosts monthly 'bank chats', while Münster actively promotes the project as a social interaction opportunity.
Volunteers, who have increased from around 100 in Düsseldorf to over 300 across the state, receive training but do not provide psychotherapy or judge participants' issues. They simply listen and engage in conversations that last about 90 minutes each. The initiative facilitates up to 2,000 such conversations annually.
To make arranging meetings easier, a new app was launched, eliminating the need for registration. The project has also seen support from local politicians, including Minister-President Hendrik Wüst.
The 'Zuhören draußen' initiative, now a registered nonprofit, has grown significantly since its inception in Düsseldorf. With over 300 volunteers and a presence in 11 cities, it continues to foster connections and combat loneliness through conversation. As it looks to the future, the initiative seeks more volunteers to support its growing impact.
