Assists young travelers: – Definitely a need

MAGALUF (Dagbladet): The streets of Magaluf in Mallorca are being filled with tourists, and after two years of pandemic, more first-time travelers are expected.

Dagbladet joined the couple Lillian and Erik Wennerberg, and Per-Kristian Gundrosen on their first shift as night walkers for Sjømannskirken, in the “Scandinavian street” on the popular holiday island.

Notice the need

During the summer months, they rig themselves on the stairs next to the Norwegian-owned bar Gjøkeredet. Here, the young travelers assist when needed.

The street where the Scandinavian bars are located in a row is just opposite the “British street”, which in the evening is transformed from a quiet and calm street, to a only great nightclubfilled with party-loving people.

Here full drunks, lightly dressed Britons and countless bachelorette parties trot up and down the street into the late hours of the night.

It is a little calmer, however, where the volunteers from Sjømannskirken have settled down.

In orange, easily recognizable T-shirts, the trio packs the car full of water bottles and first aid kit just before eleven o’clock. The Wennerbergs have done similar work in Cyprus before and generally have a lot of experience with children and young people. Gundrosen has a background in diakonia and nursing, and has also worked in Sjømannskirken before.

– It has been a very nice experience before. We notice that the young people appreciate it, and have received feedback that it is valued by the parents at home, says Lillian.

– Do you have the impression that there is a need for you?

– Absolutely! We have seen that it is very positive that Sjømannskirken is present. We are not here to point the finger, but for young people to feel safe, whether there should be a toe that needs to be plastered, or whether there should be a need for an adult to talk to. We believe it has an effect and that it is a security for the parents, says Erik.

– Our desire is to show care, Gundrosen adds.

Need a chat

Sjømannskirken is an organization that is visible in several places where many Norwegians like to holiday.

The night walkers’ primary task is to distribute water to party-minded young people and to be present, as well as turn off a chat when needed, give advice and be a safe “adult presence”, according to the operative leader of Sjømannskirken, Jan Stellef Rønningen.

The scheme started in Cyprus ten years ago, and has since been expanded.

– In 2020 and 2021 it was not carried out due to the pandemic, but now tourism is back and we believe that there will be many young people on their first holiday trip without their parents this summer, says Rønningen.

He adds that from previous years they have experienced that young people experience a lot when traveling, which they may not want to talk to their parents about, but which they still need to share with someone.

– Some have needed help back to the hotel, or ambulance, some have fallen asleep at the bar and been trapped, while others do not know how much alcohol they can tolerate, or that you tolerate less in the heat, Rønningen says.

“The safe place”

It was a calm start for the night walkers the first night, but Lillian says that they handed out almost twice as many drinking cups on day two.

– It will probably just be more beyond. Many may be a little skeptical and unsure of who we are first, but it often happens that people recognize us during the week and come back, she says, and adds:

– The young people express surprise and great gratitude that we are there. A girl said to me: We call the stairs here “the safe place”. This is how the nights go for us, and we enjoy our work and the young people.

Rønningen also states that Sjømannskirken has locally known employees who provide training to the volunteers in how to contact, among other things, the emergency room, hospital and taxi, should there be a need.

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