Support at the child and youth telephone "Nummer gegen Kummer" (number against sorrow)

The child and youth hotline (Nummer gegen Kummer) is a confidential and anonymous contact, conversation and counselling service for children and youths of all ages. It can be reached nationwide under the unified and free number 116111 from Monday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. https://www.kinderschutzbund-koeln.de/hilfen-im-kinderschutz-zentrum/telefonische-hilfeangebote/kinder-und-jugendtelefon/ or www.nummergegenkummer.de .

Your Tasks

To work on the phone, you should have the willingness and the time requirement,

• over a period of at least two years
• to work several hours a month on a regular basis and
• participate in the coordination and professional support of the child and youth helpline once a month (Wednesday from 5.00 - 6.30 p.m.).

Before taking up the volunteer work, a topic-specific training takes place, which comprises at least 60 hours. One focus is on teaching communication and counselling skills, in the specific situation (purely telephone counselling, no possibility of renewed contact, dealing with difficult telephone calls, etc.). In addition to imparting knowledge on different topics that occur on the phones, practical exercises have their important place. The training is followed by observation sessions of at least 10 hours.

What's needed

• Empathy and communication skills
• Age: (at least) 18 years
• extended certificate of good conduct necessary

Time required

The Office for Civic Commitment of the AWO Cologne is a consulting service. People who are willing to volunteer will receive advice and will be placed in organisations that work with volunteers. Further priority will be given to LESEMENTOR Cologne, young volunteers, further education and voluntary refugee work.