Thanks to supporters like you, teens like Ava* have someone to turn to when they feel alone. Teens often find the most comfort in one another, as they know other teens understand what it feels like to juggle high school, friendships, social pressure, and family expectations. When someone they know understands and takes the time to listens, really listens, it sends a powerful message: you’re not alone.
Because of donors like you, that message reaches teens every single day through ConnecTeen, a space powered not by algorithms or automated replies, but by real human connection. Someone who truly cares. And this season, your gift can go even further through our matching campaign, helping twice as many young people find the support they need when it matters most.
One of our ConnecTeen volunteers, Kelsey*, experienced this firsthand when she answered a call from Ava, a middle schooler who was struggling with loneliness, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm. Despite it being Christmas Eve, Ava could not find any holiday spirit within her.
Thanks to your support, Distress Centre Calgary can support teens through their hardest moments at all hours of the day, even on Christmas Eve. Because of you, Kelsey was highly trained and ready to listen.
Ava told Kelsey “I see no way of escaping the problems that surround me 24/7” further explaining that she was being bullied at school and that self-harm made her feel powerful, giving her a sense of control when everything else felt uncertain. She was afraid her family might find out about her self-harm over the break.
Kelsey knew that feeling. Her own experiences were what inspired her to become a volunteer, to be the voice she once needed. Instead of offering quick fixes or scripted advice, Kelsey gave Ava something no technology could replicate: her time, her empathy, and her full attention. She listened. To truly hear.
Because of your support, Ava found a safe space to share her pain. And right now, your gift can go even further through our matching campaign, helping more youth like Ava find comfort, understanding, and hope when they need it most.
As Ava opened up, she shared that she wrote poetry to express her pain. Kelsey, a songwriter herself, asked if Ava would read one aloud. As Ava’s words poured out, Kelsey noticed something incredible. Every poem, no matter how dark, ended with a spark of hope.
Kelsey gently pointed that out. Ava paused, then whispered, “I guess… maybe I do have hope.”
That reflection helped Ava realize she carried her own light all along. One conversation. One connection. One life turned toward hope.
Why Human Connection Can’t Be Replaced
Stories like Kelsey and Ava’s remind us that human connection saves lives.
Technology can provide information, but it can’t offer understanding.
An AI can process words, but not the weight of them.
It can mimic empathy, but it can’t feel it.
Only a real person, someone trained, supported, and guided by empathy can hear the quiet desperation in a young person’s voice and respond with compassion gained through lived experience.
That’s what your generosity makes possible.
Every volunteer like Kelsey is trained and supported thanks to donors like you. People who believe that connection, empathy, and humanity still matter in a digital world.
This holiday season, you can help ensure that when a young person reaches out in despair, a real human being is there to listen and to remind them that hope is never lost. And with the match still active, your gift today will have twice the impact, bringing connection and compassion to even more youth who need someone to hear them.
Your donation keeps hope human. Because human connection saves lives. Please consider donating today.
*Names and details changed to maintain confidentiality
