Latest achievements of Kék Vonal (Hungary)

Kék Vonal Child Crisis Foundation has been operating a chat counselling service since 2010.

The volunteer counsellors helped in 629 chat conversations in 2011. This is a great opportunity for those children, who find it difficult to tell their problems face to face or on the telephone. The greater anonymity of the internet based counselling offers a more secure way of sharing the most distressing or even shameful thoughts. It is also a natural way of communication for young people who spend most of their free time in front of a computer.

Recognising the increasing need for chat counselling, Kék Vonal launched the chat service in its office in Miskolc city, and extended the opening hours of the chat service.

Kék Vonal also started a peer chat counselling service, so that children can also talk to counsellors who are of similar age. There are questions or topics that  are diffcult to be discussed with adults, and children feel that it would easier and more convenient for them to share them with a peer.

The peer chat counsellors are available every Friday evening. The peer chat counsellors are 17-20 years old students, who completed a special 4 day training of chat counselling organised by the foundation. Their work in continuously monitored and helped by the internal staff and they attend supervision groups.