HEIMWEGTELEFON – A free service to accompany people on their journeys
It has become late. You have spent a cozy evening with your friends. But now it’s time to head home. No problem, you think. Just a few minutes by train and you’ll be home. “No,” you tell your friend, “you stay home and lie down. You’re almost falling asleep.”
Still, the walk to the train station is always a little scary for you. After all, it’s pitch dark, and in a city like yours, you never really know….
Oh well, nothing has ever happened, after all. Why today out of all days?
But an unpleasant surprise awaits you on the platform: there are no more trains. Not one that would at least take you close to your apartment. There’s nothing you can do about it: you’ll have to make your way on foot, willy-nilly.
Empty streets, dark shadows
The light of the street lamps flickers stale. Twenty minutes fly by in the daytime. Now, however, they become a small eternity. Your heart begins to pound a little. But fortunately you at least have your cell phone with you. You had read something once and saved the number…?
“Hello, how can I help you?”
“Yeah, I don’t know. I’m on my way home. You can come with me?”
And even if it’s just a voice on the phone. You instantly calm down. Suddenly, there’s someone with you. You are no longer alone.
“Well,” you hear the stranger say, “what’s your name? May I call you by your first name?”
Yes, of course. You somehow prefer that in this situation.
“Tell me a little bit, where are you right now?”
Hmmmm… You look for the street name and briefly describe the area.
“And where are you going? … Okay, that’s a little bit of a walk you’re looking at. Don’t worry about it. I’ll stay with you until you get home. Now, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to today?”
Sooner than you think, you are suddenly engrossed in a conversation, the friendly voice on the phone distracts you. Gives you security. When you arrive home, you’re almost a little disappointed that you have to call it a day. Twenty minutes can pass quickly after all. And you know that you won’t have any nightmares tonight.
The Heimwegtelefon
Whenever you feel unwell on your way home in the evening or at night, you can reach a volunteer from the “Heimwegtelefon” by calling +49(0)30/12074182. From Sunday to Thursday from 8 p.m. to 0 a.m. (in the winter months from 6 p.m. to 0 a.m.), on Friday and Saturday even until 3 a.m..
Every day the “Heimwegtelefon” receives multiple calls from men and women who would like to feel a little safer.
If you would like to take advantage of the service or even volunteer yourself, more information can be found at www.heimwegtelefon.net.
https://gerlinde-grunt.de/heimwegtelefon/
