Women's Programme

Women Buddy Program

A safe space where women walk alongside each other — building friendship, trust, and a new beginning.

You're Not Alone

57 Portal Pages
24/7 Video & Messaging
Smart AI Matching
Free Always
I'm a Buddy (Volunteer) I'm a Participant Explore the Portal

What It Feels Like

She hadn't talked to anyone about it in weeks.

After the move, the friends who said they'd stay in touch stopped calling. The new city felt like a waiting room. She signed up because she had nothing to lose.

Her buddy wasn't a therapist. Wasn't a social worker. Just someone who showed up on Tuesday evenings with a cup of tea and no agenda.

They talked about everything and nothing. The weather. A recipe that went wrong. A job interview that went worse. Sometimes they just sat together on a video call, each doing their own thing, not alone.

Six months later, she said: “You're the first person who made this city feel like a place I live, not a place I'm stuck.”

The Technology

A complete platform.
Not a spreadsheet.

Every buddy pair gets access to a full portal with video calls, messaging, scheduling, and smart matching. Built by TEEI. Free for everyone.

wbp.theeducationalequalityinstitute.org
Welcome back, Olena Your buddy Ingrid is online
Match Score 94%
Excellent
Next Meeting Tomorrow, 14:00
Video Call
Journey Progress Week 6 of 12
Recent Activity
Video call with Ingrid -- 52 min Yesterday
New message from Ingrid 2 days ago
Completed onboarding wizard 1 week ago

Video Calls

Face-to-face from anywhere. LiveKit-powered, encrypted, no downloads.

Real-time Chat

Message your buddy between meetings. Reactions, replies, typing indicators.

Smart Matching

Matched by interests, location, and compatibility. AI-powered strength scores.

Calendar

Month, week, and day views. Schedule meetings, get reminders.

Guided Onboarding

Step-by-step wizard for new buddies and participants. No confusion.

Magic Link Login

No passwords to remember. One click from your email.

57 Pages
110 API Endpoints
406 Tests
129 Components

Open source. Built with Astro, React, LiveKit, and Turso.

Platform Deep-Dive

Two features that change everything

Best Match
Anna K. Oslo, Norway
92% match
Shared interest: hiking, literature
Same city · flexible schedule
Personality alignment: high
Request Intro Call View Profile

Matched with intention.
Not at random.

Our matching engine considers your interests, location, availability, and personality. You see why you were matched. You do an intro call first. You decide if it's right. No pressure.

  • Compatibility scores shown upfront
  • Intro call before commitment
  • Trial period with check-ins
  • You choose -- never forced
buddy.teei.org/call
Maria
E2E Encrypted

Face-to-face.
From anywhere.

LiveKit-powered video calls, encrypted end-to-end. No app to download. Click a link, see your buddy. Record your story if you want to share it.

  • Browser-based, no downloads
  • End-to-end encrypted
  • Record your story
  • Works on any device

From signup to your first call. Six steps.

A careful process because matching matters.

Apply

Fill out a short application. Tell us about yourself, your interests, and what you're looking for. 5 minutes.

Get Verified

We verify every profile. No anonymous accounts. This keeps everyone safe.

Complete Onboarding

A guided wizard walks you through setting up your profile, availability, and preferences.

See Your Match

Our matching engine finds your best match. You see compatibility scores and why you were paired.

Intro Call

A video call to meet before committing. No pressure. If it doesn't click, we try again.

Start Meeting

Regular meetings -- video calls or in-person. Messaging between sessions. Calendar keeps you organized.

Stay Connected

Between meetings, you're never out of touch.

Messaging

Full chat with your buddy. Reactions, replies, typing indicators. A floating chat hub so you're always one click away. Language toggle for multilingual pairs.

  • Real-time typing indicators
  • Message reactions and replies
  • Floating chat hub (always accessible)
  • Language toggle for translation
  • Support chat for help

Calendar

Month, week, and day views. Schedule meetings in seconds. Automatic reminders. See your full meeting history.

  • Month, week, and day views
  • One-click meeting scheduling
  • Automatic reminders
  • Full meeting history
  • Syncs with your buddy's availability

Two Ways to Join

Whether you want to support or need connection, there's a place for you.

Volunteer

Become a Buddy

You want to make a real difference in someone's life. Not through donations. Through showing up.

What you do:

  • Meet your match regularly (video or in-person)
  • Be a friend, not a counselor
  • Share your time, not your money
  • Access the full portal (video, messaging, calendar)
  • Complete a safety orientation first
Apply as a Buddy
Participant

Get a Buddy

You want someone who understands. Someone to talk to. Someone who shows up.

What you get:

  • Matched with a verified buddy
  • Video calls and messaging
  • Your own portal dashboard
  • Choose your meeting frequency
  • Free. No catch. No time limit.
Apply as a Participant
Safety First

Built for trust. Designed for safety.

Verified Profiles

Every buddy and participant is verified before matching. No anonymous accounts.

Encrypted Communication

All messages and video calls are end-to-end encrypted. We cannot read them.

Report & Support

One-click reporting. Dedicated support team. 24/7 escalation path.

Your Data, Your Control

GDPR compliant. Delete your account and all data at any time. No questions.

By the Numbers

Built to scale. Built to last.

57 Portal Pages
110 API Endpoints
129 Components Built
406 Automated Tests
26 Email Templates
11 Database Tables
0 Passwords
Free Cost to Everyone

Built with Astro, React, LiveKit, Turso, and Cloudflare Workers. Open architecture. Tested end-to-end. Every buddy pair gets the same full-featured platform that a VC-backed startup would charge $50/month for.

501(c)(3) NonprofitCandid Platinum SealGDPR CompliantEnd-to-End Encrypted406 Automated Tests

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Women Buddy Program?

A peer connection programme that matches women who want support with women who want to help. It runs through a full online portal with video calls, messaging, and scheduling. It’s free.

Who can join as a participant?

Any woman looking for peer connection and support. You don’t need to be in crisis. You just need to want someone to talk to regularly.

Who can be a buddy?

Any woman who wants to support another woman through regular connection. You complete a safety orientation and get matched based on compatibility.

How does matching work?

Our matching engine considers your interests, availability, location, and personality. You see compatibility scores and an explanation of why you were matched. You do an intro call before committing.

Is it really free?

Yes. The portal, video calls, messaging, everything. TEEI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by donations and corporate partnerships. No cost to participants or buddies. Ever.

Do I need to download an app?

No. Everything runs in your browser. Video calls, messaging, calendar — all browser-based. You get a magic link by email to log in. No passwords.

How often do buddies meet?

That’s up to you and your buddy. Most pairs meet weekly or every two weeks, either by video call or in person. You can message any time between meetings.

What if my match doesn’t work out?

No problem. After the intro call, you enter a trial period. If it doesn’t feel right, we find you a new match. No pressure, no guilt.

You're Not Alone

A safe space where women walk alongside each other.

Apply as a Buddy Apply as a Participant
Learn More

501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN 33-2331817. Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency holder.

Already a member? Log in at wbp.theeducationalequalityinstitute.org

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