Amity was born in 2023 at Harvard University, during a time of reflection, curiosity, and a desire to create meaningful impact. Together, Professor Fawwaz Habbal and I asked a simple but pressing question: Where could we make a real difference? The answer, unexpectedly yet undeniably, was loneliness.
What began as a conversation became a journey of research. The more we learned, the more urgent the issue became. In 2018, the UK appointed the world’s first Minister for Loneliness. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared loneliness an epidemic, linking it to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and physical illness.
The Beginning
of Amity
We realized loneliness wasn’t just a social issue. It was a silent, global crisis affecting lives across all ages and cultures. Yet while many programs address its effects, it seemed that none prevent it from taking root. Solutions target the symptoms — but not the source. And so, Amity: A Preventive Loneliness Project was born.
Each of us is unique, just look at our fingerprints. No two are alike. We carry our own stories, beginnings, struggles, and turning points. In that sense, each of us is a book, full of pages that matter. That’s why we chose to design this website as a book. Not just a collection of pages, but a journey, chapter by chapter, through ideas, people, and possibilities. A space to read, reflect, and feel. Even our logo echoes this: a fingerprint-like mark, symbolizing individual stories coming together distinct, yet connected.
Rooted in education, mental health, and emotional development, Amity focuses on planting the seeds of connection early — before isolation, shame, or disconnection take hold. We equip children, teachers, and communities with tools to nurture empathy, resilience, self-awareness, and belonging. Because prevention isn’t just powerful — it’s possible.
Amity is more than a project—it is a growing movement of people who believe that connection is a human right, and that preventing loneliness and creating healthier mental health environments is one of the most powerful ways to build a more compassionate world.
Welcome to Amity.
We’re so glad you’re here.
Eva Schwarz
