Advocacy group for child safety calls for assistance concerning the young people's and adolescents' telephone lines
The Children and Youth Telephone (KJT) in Bergisch Gladbach, a well-known helpline offering confidential advice to children and young people, has been a beacon of support for thousands of individuals over the years. Established three decades ago by three dedicated women, the KJT has grown to become the largest free and anonymous telephone counseling service for young people in Germany, handling around 400,000 calls nationwide each year.
Last year, the KJT in Bergisch Gladbach saw a surge in demand, with more than 6000 calls handled during the record year of 2022, a period marked by the Corona pandemic. In those challenging times, 30 advisors were on hand to provide support, managing 8000 calls at the KJT in Bergisch Gladbach alone.
The gender representation at the KJT is roughly equal, and no specific prior knowledge is required to become a volunteer advisor. The training for new advisors begins in mid-November and lasts until the end of March 2026. Interested parties should have a joy for working with children and young people, as well as relevant experience.
Among those seeking advice, 60% are reported to have psychological problems. Conflicts with partners, friends, classmates, parents, teachers, or other adults account for 40% of the calls, with 21% related to partnerships, friendships, or classmates, and another 19% related to issues with parents, teachers, or other adults. The age of callers ranges from 6 to 25 years, with about half being between 13 and 17 years old.
In addition to telephone counseling, the Child Protection Association has offered online counseling for the past two years. The service, available under the "Number against Sorrow" (116 111), has 2500 advisors available from Monday to Saturday from 2 PM to 8 PM. Across Germany, more than 4000 advisors are active at 87 locations.
With the number of advisors having decreased due to professional, age-related, and health reasons, the Child Protection Association Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis is urgently seeking reinforcement for their team. If you are interested in volunteering, an information event is scheduled on September 29th at 6 PM at the Kinderschutzbund, Bensberger Str. 133 (Heidkamp). Registration is required by August 30th via email: [email protected].
For more precise and up-to-date details about the history, call statistics, and volunteer recruitment of the KJT in Bergisch Gladbach, it is recommended to consult the official KJT website or contact their administration directly.
- The Child Protection Association, responsible for the "Number against Sorrow" service, offers online counseling beyond telephone counseling, focusing on mental health, education, and self-development.
- In the confines of the KJT in Bergisch Gladbach, more than half of the callers are adolescents dealing with psychological issues or conflicts, which makes science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental health crucial areas of support.
- To ensure continued support for distressed children and youth, the Child Protection Association Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis actively encourages fitness-and-exercise through volunteering, providing an opportunity for personal development and education in helping others.
