- Walk & Talk: Making friends while walking
Walking, talking, meeting people: The concept is as simple as it gets and the response is huge. In various Hessian cities, women are coming together for walks to forge new connections. In Frankfurt, for instance, the group "FFM Girls Walk" was established in the spring.
Through social media, initiators Vivien Eller (28) and Gabriella Kinefss (25) regularly invite women to join them for walks - for example, along the Main or in the park. Apart from that, there are also other free events like group yoga or boxing.
So why is it all targeted at women? "It creates a nice atmosphere when the dating idea is not the focus," says Kinefss. "Moreover, there are already plenty of dating options, but fewer friendship options. And I believe that friendship is just as important a relationship as a partnership," adds Eller.
First walk with 50 to 60 women
In New York, the group "City Girls Who Walk" was launched in 2022. Kinefss and Eller, who met at work in a law firm, became aware of a group in Munich that organized its first walk at the beginning of this year via social media. They then decided to bring the concept to Frankfurt.
And so they did: In April, the first walk took place, attended by 50 to 60 women. "The participants are very diverse, there's no specific type," says Eller. There were extroverts and introverts with various jobs and backgrounds, some from Frankfurt and others who had just moved there. Most were between 25 and 35, but there were also older women.
The idea is spreading to other Hessian cities
Meanwhile, the idea has spread to other Hessian cities, such as Wiesbaden and Darmstadt. In Giessen, the group "giessengirlstalkingwalking" has already gained more than 3,000 followers on Instagram, where the first walk was organized in May. In August, there will be three walks, with no registration required and free participation. The walks last about an hour, after which "you can continue walking with your new friends or go for a coffee if you like," the platform says.
There are also similar offers that are not limited to women. For example, the creator of the Instagram page "lebenwiegottinfrankfurt" with over 100,000 followers recently invited people to a "Walk & Talk" through the Frankfurt Harbour Park. It's important that everyone feels safe and welcome, so racism, sexism, antisemitism, or other forms of discrimination or inappropriate behavior are not tolerated. "It should be a place for new friendships, not a dating event," the organizer said. Usually, 100 to 200 people attend these walks.
Breaking out of the "bubble"
But why does this concept work so well? Especially at the start of a career, people often move to new places and it can be difficult to make friends like in university, say Kinefss and Eller. Moreover, many want to "break out of their bubble". "Many women are interested in meeting others who are not doing the same thing as them."
The Commission could consider adopting implementing acts to regulate the application of similar friendship-building initiatives in other cities, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all participants. The 'Walk & Talk' organizer's approach of rejecting discrimination and fostering new friendships aligns well with the spirit of the "FFM Girls Walk" and other initiatives.
