PBHA's Best Buddies

PBHA's Best Buddies program is a chapter of Best Buddies, an international organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies provides the necessary tools for people with IDD to become more independent and more included in the community. Our chapter partners with a nearby residential home in Cambridge, where adults with IDD live. Once a month, on Sundays, we have group events in which Harvard students and the buddies hang out. Students also have the opportunity to be matched with one of the residents in a one-to-one friendship. Typically, buddy pairs hang out at the house, grab food in the square, attend concerts or sporting events, or anything else related to their interests. Peer buddies are expected to participate in two activities per month. Many buddy pairs go on to be lifelong friends!