Greenlandic children and young people now have a new opportunity to seek advice and support through an anonymous chat feature launched by the nationwide counseling helpline Tusaannga. This service is inspired by the Danish Children’s Phone and is now offered in a tailored format that meets the needs of young people in Greenland. Previously, Greenlandic children could contact Tusaannga via phone or SMS, but with the addition of a chat feature, which will come into effect this Friday, they will have an even more accessible and discreet option for help. This service is particularly important for those who may feel insecure discussing personal and sensitive issues over the phone.
“We want to show children and young people that Tusaannga is a place where support is available for all kinds of daily challenges, such as love matters or questions about bodily development,” says Aqqaluaq B. Egede, Minister for Children and Youth in Greenland. The new chat feature was developed in collaboration with Children’s Welfare (Børns Vilkår), with a strong emphasis on creating a safe and anonymous environment where children and young people can feel secure. On the new platform, young people will also be able to find theme pages offering knowledge and advice on various challenges they may face.
Rasmus Kjeldahl, CEO of Børns Vilkår, expresses great satisfaction with the project: “We are incredibly happy to be able to contribute to ensuring that children and young people in Greenland have even better opportunities to seek help when they need it.” To ensure the new service, Børns Vilkår has also helped raise funding through various foundations, highlighting the broad engagement and support for the project. With this new addition, Tusaannga hopes to reach even more children and young people who need help and support in their daily lives.