You’ll never walk alone again!
What do they do?
“Heimwegtelefon” is a german company and their name translates to “home walk telephone”. The company operates a phone line which people can call when they feel unsafe or threatened during their walk home late at night. Talking to another person gives off a sense of security to the caller as it does not feel like they are walking home alone.
The person taking the call will help the caller to calm down and feel more at ease while at the same time knowing their location which allows for action in case of an incident or attack. The phone line is active during the weekdays from 9pm until 12 am and on weekends until 3am and the hotline is mostly answered by volunteers. This issue aims to solve
The founders of the company had this idea as they frequently called friends or family on their way home which made them feel at ease. During the late hours at which the service is provided some people might not feel comfortable calling family or friends as they might wake them. Therefore, this innovation provides reassurance to people who feel unsafe that there is someone to talk to and helps them get out of the victim role which they might otherwise feel trapped in.
Why does it matter?
The obvious reason why it matters is that people walking home alone at night feel safer and action can be taken in case of an incident. However, the service also creates benefits for the other side.
Many of the volunteers who are answering these calls are working on call during late night shifts, during slow nights it can be quiet and a call from the Heimwegtelefon hotline can provide them with a stimulating conversation while also making the other person feel better. The person answering the line can will feel empowered and proud of themselves for helping someone overcome a scary situation.
References:
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/gesellschaft/heimwegtelefon-101.html
