Hello, this is Nightline!

Approximately one month ago a weekend was reserved for newcomers to give them important information and fundamental skills for Nightline volunteering. The training lasted for few hours on Friday and Sunday. It was necessary to know what is ahead of us and realize whether our expectations meet the reality.

Firstly, I would like to mention some information about our service. We are open from seven in the evening until seven in the morning, working in pairs. We can contact us via telephone, which is available during the whole night, and also via e-mail or “Instant Messaging/IM”. E-mails are received during the day, however, we reply to them during the working hours. Nevertheless, IM is available only from seven in the evening until midnight. We can be approached for many reasons: family issues, studying difficulties, financial problems or relationship crisis etc.

The main rule to be followed is the fact that we function only as listeners rather than advisors. Thus, we cannot advise on what should be done in a particular situation. However, we are happy to outline possible ways of thinking that lead to the solution, which should be reached by the callers themselves. This is not always easy, because sometimes the callers expect solution provisions from the volunteers (it is not surprising given the fact that they may find themselves in a difficult and unbearable life situation). Other times it is us who have to remain completely objective and impartial listeners.

Despite the impossibility to provide solutions, we achieve major successes. Well, sometimes it is enough just to get out of your chest what is hurting you, without the necessity to reach a conclusion. For this reason, I am now following this motto: Speech is silver, silence is golden.