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Hessian Prevention Prize 2025: Cool and Safe” protects children!
The e-learning program “Cool and Safe” from SMOG e.V. was awarded the Hessian Prevention Prize to protect children.
Hessian Prevention Prize 2025: Cool and Safe” protects children!
On June 10, 2025, the SMOG app “Cool and Safe” was awarded the Hessian Prevention Prize 2025 at the Hessian Ministry of Justice in Wiesbaden. In addition to State Minister of Justice, Christian Heinz, Michael Weidmann, CEO of Sparda-Bank Hessen eG, also congratulated the representatives of SMOG, Erwin Maisch and Max Ostrowski. The award includes prize money of 1,500 euros, which was provided by the Sparda Bank of Hesse. With this honor, the SMOG e.V. association took third place for the development of an app that specifically aims to help children between the ages of 7 and 12 to better assess dangerous situations and develop more self-confidence.
“Cool and Safe” is not only free and ad-free, but is also available in five different languages: German, English, French, Spanish and Ukrainian. The app is part of a comprehensive e-learning program that protects children from violence and sexual abuse and teaches them important skills to deal with dangers in their everyday lives. Interior Minister Roman Poseck describes the app as an important step towards improving safety for children in the digital age.
An important tool for prevention
The app was developed and introduced in cooperation with the Goethe University Frankfurt. Since its implementation in 2013, the application has been an integral part of the school offering at primary schools in Hesse. The program has already been scientifically evaluated twice and has thus proven its effectiveness. The success of the app is all the more significant because police crime statistics recorded an alarming increase in crimes against sexual self-determination in 2023, including an 11.1% increase in child pornography.
The need for such preventive measures is underlined by the current figures, which illustrate the urgency of the issue. The “FOKUS” unit of the Hessian police has been dedicated to the prosecution of sex offenders and the fight against child pornography for over four years. In 2024, more than 1,600 searches were carried out and numerous arrest warrants were executed.
The way into the future
Erwin Maisch, the first chairman of SMOG e.V., said he was proud of the award and thanked the supporters, including the Leader funding of the Knüll and Hersfeld-Rotenburg regions. SMOG representatives encourage all parents to actively use the app and give their children the opportunity to deal with the challenges in the digital world safely and confidently.
With the SMOG “Cool and Safe” app, children not only get access to an important e-learning program, but also to valuable knowledge about dangers and how to deal with them. Eliminating ignorance and promoting skills are crucial to protecting the youngest in our society. In this way, SMOG makes an indispensable contribution to child protection.
Further information about the app and the accompanying projects can be found on the websites of Osthessen-News, Hessen.de and eLearning Child protection.