For ten years, Huis van het Kind Pelt has organized the HELP game for fourth-year secondary school students. The original game from the JAC was adapted to the local situation each time. To better align with Pelt's practices, Huis van het Kind has now developed its own version. It focuses on the living world of young people and the local support offerings, including the OverKop-huis, the street corner worker, and the youth service. This way, students not only discover where to find help but also who is behind those services.
A friend is withdrawing more and more and seems to have lost interest in everything. What do you do then? And where do you find help? This is an example of a situation that young people discuss with each other during the HELP game. In small groups, students discuss recognizable, fictional situations. They collaboratively figure out which support services could help a friend. There are no right or wrong answers. By approaching it from someone else's perspective, it becomes easier to discuss sensitive topics.
Staff members from the support services also participate. This allows young people to meet the people they can turn to later. This personal introduction aims to lower the threshold for seeking help themselves when needed.
Not only the game itself is renewed, but the organization also runs differently. From now on, schools will take on the practical organization. Huis van het Kind Pelt provides the game materials, contacts with support services, and the necessary support. With this approach, Pelt aims to give the HELP game a permanent place in secondary education in the coming years.
WICO BBO and WICO Neerpelt organized the first sessions this week. Other Pelt schools will follow later this school year.
“"Young people need to know that they are not alone. With this game, they not only learn where to find help but also meet the people behind the services. That makes the step to ask for help much smaller."
