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50 years of telephone counseling: 500,000 conversations that touch hearts!
Find out everything about the 50-year history of the Aachen-Eifel telephone counseling service: its founding, development and nationwide accessibility.
50 years of telephone counseling: 500,000 conversations that touch hearts!
What was going on in Aachen? On November 1st, 2025, the Aachen-Eifel telephone counseling service will celebrate an impressive anniversary: It is now exactly 50 years since the first call was answered under the leadership of Pastor Toni Jansen and Superintendent Lindner. What started with a small group of 27 volunteers, including seven men, has grown into a great initiative that provides daily support to people in difficult life situations.
The first discussions began on November 15, 1975 and it soon became clear that the offer was urgently needed. After just three years, the number of volunteers rose to over 80. Since 1997, the telephone counseling service has been available nationwide on a free number, which is an important point of contact for many. The team offers 24/7 support, not only by telephone but also by email, with almost 40,000 emails answered since the activity on the Internet.
A strong network
Telephone counseling has established itself as a rock in the surf. Day and night, 365 days a year, trained employees are ready to listen and offer support. For many people, this reliable contact point is a ray of hope in dark times. The success of this initiative is also reflected in the number of over 500,000 conversations that have taken place over the last five decades, and that speaks for itself!
There is increasing interest not only in telephone counseling in Aachen. In the digital world, platforms like Roblox (*developed by Roblox Corporation*) have caused a stir. Official since 2006, the game that inspires millions to create and explore their own worlds has seen a huge boost, especially during the pandemic. With an average of over 85 million daily active users, Roblox appeals to many young people - around half of all under-16s in the USA are active gamers.
Roblox and its popularity
What makes Roblox so engaging? Players can customize their avatars and create their own games in the 3D environment. The offer ranges from popular games such as “Adopt Me!” to “jailbreak”. The concept of shared experiences is very popular with Roblox. Not only are the possibilities of game expansion appreciated, but also the events that take place in cooperation with big brands such as Nike and Netflix. This mix of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit appeals to many and is contributing to the doubling of player numbers in the last decade.
Despite the many positive aspects, the platform also faces challenges such as content moderation and protecting young users from inappropriate material. Given the enormous growth, there were also critical voices about the platform, but the community and the joy of the game prevail.
In Cologne and far beyond, the Aachen-Eifel telephone counseling service remains a symbol of support and life help, while Roblox can inspire generations of gamers. Both have found their place in our modern society: one in psychological support, the other in virtual creativity. One thing is certain – both are important and show how valuable human interaction and new worlds can be.