Children's and youth advocacy group solicits aid for their hotline service
In the heart of Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, the Children and Youth Phone (Kinder- und Jugendtelefon, KJT) continues its three-decade-long mission of providing confidential support to children and youth in need. Established 30 years ago by the Kinderschutzbund Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, the KJT began with three women volunteering from their homes and has since grown to a team of around 20 volunteer advisors handling calls [1][2].
Last year, the KJT handled over 6000 calls, addressing a broad range of topics, including bullying, loneliness, relationship issues, and experiences of violence. While this number is slightly down from the record 8000 calls handled during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when 30 advisors were active [1], the demand for counseling and support has been steadily on the rise.
As a result, the KJT team is urgently seeking reinforcement. They are currently recruiting volunteers to join the advisory team and help manage the increasing number of calls and maintain the quality of support provided [1]. To facilitate this recruitment, an information event for potential volunteer advisors is being organized, offering insight into the role and training involved to prepare them for this emotionally important work [1].
The training for new advisors starts in mid-November and lasts until the end of March 2026. Interested parties should have joy and experience in dealing with children and young people, empathy, patience, and communication skills. Registration for the training can be done via email by August 30th, with details about age, education, and current activity required [1].
The KJT Bergisch Gladbach is the largest free and anonymous telephone counseling offer for young people in Germany, with around 400,000 calls handled nationwide by over 4000 advisors at 87 locations [1]. Over 60% of those seeking advice from the KJT Bergisch Gladbach do so because of psychological problems, with another 21% having conflicts in partnerships, with friends or classmates, and 19% having conflicts with parents, teachers, or other adults [1].
Dieter Rosenbaum, who has been responsible for the children and youth phone in the board of the German Child Protection Association Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis for three years, stated that a quarter of the calls handled in 2022 were "intensive counseling conversations" [1]. The KJT Bergisch Gladbach remains a vital and often the first and sometimes the only confidential contact children and youth have to talk about their problems in the Bergisch Gladbach area [1].
The German Child Protection Association also offers online counseling in addition to telephone counseling, ensuring that support is available to those who need it, no matter where they are. As the demand for counseling services continues to grow, the KJT's urgent call for reinforcement is a testament to the vital role it plays in the lives of children and youth in Bergisch Gladbach and beyond.
- Acknowledging the rising demand for counseling services, the KJT (Children and Youth Phone) in Bergisch Gladbach is actively recruiting volunteers to join their advisory team, focusing on the areas of mental health, family health, and parenting, to help manage the increasing number of calls and maintain the quality of support provided.
- With training commencing in mid-November and lasting until the end of March 2026, potential volunteers are encouraged to register via email by August 30th, with the qualifications for a volunteer advisor requiring joy and experience in dealing with children and young people, empathy, patience, and communication skills.
- As psychological problems are a significant concern for the approximately 60% of young people seeking advice from the KJT Bergisch Gladbach, the ongoing mission of the organization encompasses not just health-and-wellness but also mental-health support, making it a pivotal resource for the community.
