Heart to Hearts Peer Support

Huron at Western University is a Liberal Arts University that offers elite, yet accessible education where personalized learning experiences position students for professional success, while also developing their character. The result? Students who are formidable Leaders with Heart who care about the people and world around them.

Heart to Hearts is a peer support initiative that empowers student volunteers to offer compassionate, heart-centered listening to fellow students while developing emotional intelligence, relational skills, and self-awareness. By holding space for others, volunteers also strengthen their own capacity for empathy, presence, and personal well-being. As a key initiative of Wellness Services at Huron University, Heart to Hearts volunteers contribute to a campus culture of care, inclusion, and connection. To earn this CanCred badge, volunteers completed online training in empathetic listening, ethical engagement, bias-awareness, and the Recognize, Respond, Refer, and Reflect framework through More Feet On The Ground and Sidewalk Talk. Following their listening role at a Heart to Hearts event, volunteers participated in a facilitated debrief to reflect on their experience, personal growth, and the impact of peer support. Badge earners engaged meaningfully in this process, offering compassionate presence to peers while contributing to a more connected and supportive campus environment.

Skills Learned

| Active listening | Rapport-building | Compassionate presence | Nonjudgemental support | Reflective questioning | Bias awareness

Earning Criteria:

• Complete 1.5 hours of online training, including Sidewalk Talk Listener training and More Feet On The Ground (This training only needs to be completed once to volunteer as a Heart to Hearts listener.)
• Provided heart-centered, supportive listening to peers during the keystone Heart to Hearts event
• Participate in a facilitated post-event debrief focused on reflection and personal growth