10/02/2026
This is from one of our board members in PR, Carlos Irizarry, doing a presentation for the school that he was able to work with other sources to donate a buddy bench to the Lajas HS.
Here is the complete English translation presented by Carlos, keeping the original meaning and structure while making the English natural and appropriate for a school/community presentation.
Mission Statement
The Swing for Sydney Foundation exists to provide hope, compassion, and awareness to young people and families facing mental health challenges. Through su***de prevention education, youth mental health awareness, peer support resources, and partnerships with schools, local communities, and programs such as Lifesavers, we help connect students with the tools, people, and encouragement they need to recognize signs of crisis, ask for help, and know that they are deeply valued and never alone.
Vision Statement
We dream of a world where every young person knows that they are seen, heard, and never alone. A world where families, schools, and communities come together with compassion, awareness, and the courage to recognize when someone is struggling, helping them find support before hope seems out of reach.
Through small acts of kindness, honest conversations, and meaningful connections, we believe healing can grow—drop by drop—until it becomes a river of hope for the young people and families who need it most.
Motto
Drop by drop, a river is formed.
The Buddy Bench Project
A Buddy Bench is a special seat on a school playground where a student who feels lonely, excluded, or does not have anyone to play with can visibly signal that they need a friend.
The Buddy Bench Project was designed by students, for students. It promotes inclusion and emotional support. The idea is simple but powerful: when a student sits on the bench, it is a signal that they need a friend. This initiative encourages peer support and strengthens the sense of community within the school.
The primary purpose of a Buddy Bench in schools is to combat loneliness and promote social inclusion on the playground. It provides a safe space and a visual tool that allows children to communicate their feelings without necessarily having to use words.
A Buddy Bench is a designated bench on a school playground where students can sit if they feel lonely, do not have anyone to play with, or want to make new friends. Its primary purpose is to promote inclusion, combat loneliness, and help prevent bullying by serving as a visual signal that encourages other children to invite the student to participate in their activities.
The concept was popularized in 2013 by an American elementary school student named Christian Bucks. Since then, Buddy Benches have been adopted by schools around the world as a strategy for promoting positive school relationships and anti-bullying efforts.
Main Functions in the School Environment
* Identifying loneliness: Allows children to communicate that they feel excluded or alone without having to verbally ask for help.
* Encouraging empathy: Teaches students to be aware of their classmates’ feelings and take the initiative to include others.
* Facilitating friendship: Provides a safe meeting point where students can begin positive social interactions.
* Promoting emotional self-management: Helps students recognize when they need support and seek a safe space within the school.
Main Objectives
* Combat loneliness: Gives visibility to students who are shy or feel lost or isolated within the school environment.
* Prevent bullying: Reduces social isolation and bullying incidents by encouraging a culture of inclusion and kindness.
* Develop positive values: Teaches communication, active listening, empathy, and compassion from an early age.
How Does It Work on a Daily Basis?
The system is designed to be simple and supported by the entire school community:
* The signal: When a student feels lonely, excluded, sad, or simply cannot find anyone to play with during recess, they go and sit on the special bench.
* The action: When other students see someone sitting on the bench, they receive a “call to action.” They know that their classmate needs a friend, so they approach the student and invite them to play, talk, walk, or join their group.
* The goal: To promote empathy and solidarity from an early age by encouraging children themselves to take responsibility for caring for and supporting their peers without always depending on direct adult intervention.
How Does It Work on a Daily Basis?
The use of the bench generally follows a few simple guidelines that are taught to students at the beginning of the school year:
1. Before sitting down: The child first tries to find a game or join a group on their own.
2. The moment they sit down: If they cannot find anyone to play with, they sit on the bench. This signals that they are open to an invitation.
3. The response from classmates: When other children see someone sitting on the bench, they approach and say things such as:
* “Do you want to play with us?”
* “Do you want to walk and talk?”
4. The response: The student on the bench accepts the first invitation they receive to help maintain the inclusion process.
If You Want to Implement This Idea in an Elementary or Secondary School
The program can be adapted to fit the needs of each school.
Possible materials include:
* Simple rules written specifically for students.
* Guidelines for teachers and school staff.
* Student education on how the Buddy Bench works.
* Guidance on empathy, inclusion, kindness, and peer support.
* Clear procedures for situations where a student may need additional help from an adult.
How Does It Work?
* Signal that a student is seeking connection: A child sits on the bench when they do not have anyone to play with or are having a difficult day.
* Response from classmates: When other students see someone sitting there, they are encouraged to approach the student, ask how they are doing, and invite them to join their games or have a conversation.
* Encouraging independence: The program encourages students to help address situations involving isolation through empathy and kindness, rather than always depending on adult intervention.
