# Best Buddies Friendship Program The Best Buddies Friendship Program is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life while building lasting relationships. As a volunteer, you’ll be paired one-on-one with a peer who has intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), working to break down barriers to socialization and inclusion. This experience fosters authentic friendships and creates a supportive community where everyone can thrive. By participating, you’ll play a vital role in promoting kindness, empathy, and equality. ## What You'll Do As a Best Buddies volunteer, your actions will have a direct, positive impact on your buddy’s life and your own. You’ll engage in activities that build mutual trust and joy, while also contributing to the broader goal of inclusion. Some of your key responsibilities will include: - **Forming a Friendship:** Spend time developing a meaningful one-on-one relationship with your buddy, based on mutual interests, respect, and understanding. - **Regular Communication:** Commit to consistent engagement, whether through in-person visits, phone calls, or messages, with a minimum of monthly contact. - **Planning Inclusive Activities:** Coordinate fun and age-appropriate outings or hangouts designed to foster connection, such as playing sports, going to the movies, or attending community events. - **Fostering Inclusion:** Be an advocate for your buddy and help others see the unique value they bring to your community. - **Developing Empathy:** Work to understand your buddy’s experiences, build emotional connections, and support their goals and individual needs. - **Supporting Best Buddies Events:** Participate in optional program-based group activities, including fundraisers and workshops that promote disability inclusion and awareness. By joining this program, you’ll create moments of joy and friendship while becoming an active advocate for diversity and inclusion in your community. ## Skills You'll Develop This program empowers participants to not only give back but also grow personally and professionally. Here are some skills you’ll gain while volunteering: - **Empathy:** Develop a deeper understanding of life experiences different from your own and learn to build supportive relationships based on trust and compassion. - **Communication:** Strengthen your ability to communicate clearly and effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds and abilities. - **Leadership:** Build confidence in managing friendships and organizing inclusive activities that foster community. - **Problem-Solving:** Learn how to adapt and respond to the unique challenges of supporting someone with intellectual or developmental disabilities. - **Advocacy:** Gain the skills to advocate for equity and meaningful inclusion, becoming an informed ally for individuals with disabilities. These experiences will not only prepare you for college and future careers but also help you become a more thoughtful and compassionate leader. ## Why It Matters for College Applications The Best Buddies Friendship Program directly demonstrates qualities that colleges look for in applicants: commitment to service, leadership, and personal growth. Participating in a program that requires a full school-year commitment emphasizes your ability to dedicate yourself to long-term goals, a trait that admissions officers value. By forming a meaningful friendship with someone who has IDD, you showcase qualities like empathy, collaboration, and social awareness—traits that set you apart as a well-rounded individual. Colleges are increasingly focused on how candidates contribute to diverse and inclusive communities, and this program highlights your ability to create positive change through advocacy and compassion. Additionally, this experience can align strongly with certain majors and careers, such as psychology, education, social work, special education, health sciences, or nonprofit management. By showcasing your involvement in this program, you demonstrate early interest in these fields and stand out as an applicant with hands-on experience directly relevant to your future ambitions. Whether you’re planning on pursuing a STEM career, humanities, or even business, admissions teams will appreciate the leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving skills honed through Best Buddies. ## Requirements The Best Buddies Friendship Program is accessible to all high school students in grades 9-12 who meet the following requirements: - **Commitment to One School Year:** Participants must maintain involvement for the entirety of the academic year. - **Monthly Contact:** Volunteers are required to connect with their buddy at least once per month to maintain the friendship. - **In-Person Format:** The program requires participation in in-person activities and meetings. There are no mandatory training sessions or prerequisites to join, making this program welcoming to those with all levels of prior experience in disability advocacy or volunteering. ## How to Get Started Getting involved with the Best Buddies Friendship Program is simple: 1. Visit [Best Buddies International](https://www.bestbuddies.org) to learn more about the program and locate your school’s chapter or nearest participating location. 2. Reach out to your chapter leader or school administrator to express your interest and confirm program details. 3. Complete any application forms or introductory surveys required by your chapter. 4. Once paired with your buddy, begin scheduling your first activity and begin building your friendship! By volunteering with Best Buddies, you’re not only making a positive impact on someone else’s life but also growing into a more compassionate and empowered leader. Take the first step today toward fostering inclusion and meaningful connections!