October 3, 2025, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM, Centre Culturel Bruegel

Africa innovates. Africa heals. What if we looked at mental health differently?

Join us for a special evening celebrating a resilient and creative Africa in the face of mental health challenges, through the screening of The Friendship Bench, winner of the 2025 Millennium Silver Award. This powerful documentary highlights a community-based, deeply human, and remarkably effective approach.

The screening will be followed by a roundtable discussion with African experts focusing on COVID-19, cancer, and mental health.

A networking cocktail will close the evening in a friendly atmosphere.

SYNOPSIS

When the community loses hope, grandmothers take action. In 2006, Dr. Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatrist in Zimbabwe, was ordered by the government to deal with the severe mental health crisis afflicting the nation, but the country lacks qualified professionals. Dr. Dixon’s visionary approach of establishing the “Friendship Bench” within communities started with a group of 14 grandmothers (Gogos), training them in cognitive therapy to treat depression on public benches. His initiative has since expanded throughout Zimbabwe, into neighboring countries and all over the world.

DETAILED PROGRAM:

6:30 PM – Welcome and opening remarks
6:45 PM – Screening of The Friendship Bench (English with French subtitles)
8:30 PM – Discussion on health in Africa
9:30 PM – Cocktail

DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Rea Moeti-Vogt is a visionary producer and director, celebrated for her creativity and storytelling prowess, raised in a culture where the elderly are revered and valued, influenced by her grandparents’ wisdom. This documentary is her first feature-length project.

LOCATION
Bruegel Cultural Center – Rue des Renards 1F, 1000 Brussels.

Free admission with mandatory registration via: https://tinyurl.com/ycy3ms4u

or by email: reservation@festivalmillenium.org

PRESSE

“It’s rare to come across such a hopeful story. Truly inspiring!” – Encounters Film Festival

“..one psychiatrist for every 1.5 million people– and a surplus of grandmothers seeking purpose in their lives.”-  PBS News

This event is organized by the Millenium Festival and Alefa Diaspora

With the support of the City of Brussels – International Solidarity Unit.