You have questions? We have answers.
About YOUNA
How YOUNA came into being, who's behind it, and why we do this. Here you'll find answers about our history, our stance, and our everyday life as a team.
What is YOUNA?
YOUNA is a safe, discrimination-aware AI application for people who experience racism or for those who want to support people affected by it. YOUNA protects your data and responds empathetically to what you share. The AI chatbot was developed to strengthen you through digital empowerment, to give you stability, and to show you concrete steps for dealing with racist discrimination.
How does the YOUNA chatbot work?
YOUNA runs on a multi-agent system that's specifically trained for racism-related situations and undergoes regular quality checks. YOUNA recognizes discriminatory language, responds sensitively to psychological distress, and provides you with legal orientation.
Is YOUNA just ChatGPT with a different topic?
No. YOUNA uses a multi-agent system with specialized "expert teams" (e.g. immediate support, legal, bystander support). The focus is on racism, psychological relief, and legal orientation — not general knowledge. YOUNA takes a clear stance against discrimination rather than treating "both sides" as equal. Inputs are checked for abusive language; responses prioritize safety, dignity, and practicality.
What can I use YOUNA for?
Have you experienced racist discrimination at work, in sports, or at school? YOUNA is available around the clock and supports you with initial questions, doubts, or feelings of being overwhelmed right after such an experience. The specialized AI chatbot analyzes what you share and responds sensitively to your individual situation. It helps you make sense of what happened, explains why a statement is racist, and refers you to appropriate support services when needed. YOUNA empowers you to stay capable of acting, even when you feel powerless.
Can I use YOUNA even if I'm not affected myself?
Yes — even if you don't experience racism yourself, you can use YOUNA as an ally. The AI chatbot gives you valuable knowledge, shows you concrete options for action, and helps you respond empathetically and respectfully when people around you experience discrimination. This way, you learn to better support others and to actively stand up against racism.
Who is behind YOUNA?
Behind YOUNA is a diverse team from the fields of tech, psychology, and law that has been working on the platform since 2021. We're developing YOUNA to make racism visible and to support those affected, by making digital self-help available quickly and anonymously. Many of us have experienced racism ourselves. We combine our experience and expertise to give people orientation and safety and to actively empower them — especially where offline structures reach their limits.
Data Security & Privacy
What happens to your data — and what doesn't. Transparency matters to us. In this category, we explain how we handle sensitive content.
How anonymous is the chat really?
You don't have to provide any personal information. Messages are processed without real names or personal data. Only share what you want to. All chat data is automatically and irrevocably deleted after 90 days.
Who reads along?
No one reads along live. Responses come automatically from YOUNA. For quality improvement purposes, chats are evaluated anonymously on a random-sample basis — without any way to trace them back to individuals — and are deleted after 90 days at the latest.
How do you protect sensitive content?
Data minimization (only what's necessary), strictly limited and logged access. Content is used exclusively to support you and for anonymous improvement — no advertising, no selling of data. Deletion after 90 days is standard.
Do I need to confirm anything before I chat with YOUNA?
Yes, a brief notice appears before you start: YOUNA is not a substitute for emergency help, therapy, or individual legal advice. You agree to our terms of use and privacy notice.
What happens to what I write?
YOUNA identifies your concern and selects the appropriate one of the 7 specialist agents. The agent draws on curated expert knowledge and responds empathetically with clear next steps. Optionally, you can give us feedback on the responses — this also stays anonymous.
Technical Questions
What's behind the chatbot — and how it works. Here you'll learn more about the technical side of YOUNA: from the AI itself to everyday use.
Is YOUNA an AI like ChatGPT?
YOUNA uses AI, including OpenAI, but it isn't a general-purpose chat. Behind YOUNA are 7 specialized subject areas, our "agents," which are trained for sensitive situations and work with verified content. Responses are empathetic, action-oriented, and tailored to your situation.
How many topic areas does YOUNA cover?
Seven. Your message is automatically routed to the appropriate area — e.g. orientation & first aid, psychosocial support, legal steps, safety/emergencies, health, work & finances, as well as relevant support services. (You only get what's relevant to you.)
What happens technically when I send a message?
YOUNA identifies your concern and selects the appropriate one of the 7 agents. The agent draws on a curated knowledge base of expert content. You receive a clear, empathetic response — ranging from self-help tips to concrete next steps and counseling services.
How is YOUNA being further developed?
Through anonymous feedback, regular expert reviews, and new verified content from our experts. This means responses keep becoming more precise, more inclusive, and closer to your needs.
Can I use YOUNA on my phone?
Yes. Just open it in your smartphone browser — no app download required.
Everyday Racism
What we understand racism to be — and how YOUNA deals with it. We talk about terms, structures, and experiences — clearly named, from a community perspective.
What is racism?
Racism means devaluing, discriminating against, or excluding people because of their skin color, origin, or cultural background. It can be openly visible — for example through insulting words or exclusion — or hidden behind structures and rules that disadvantage people. It affects not only individuals but entire communities. Recognizing it is the first step toward protecting yourself, finding support, and actively taking a stand against discrimination. YOUNA can help you with that.
What can I do if I've experienced racism in everyday life?
If you experience racism in everyday life, every moment counts. Stay grounded in yourself. If you can, set a boundary or name the behavior. Experiencing racism is hurtful, and it's right to seek protection, clarity, and support. YOUNA offers you a first place to turn to. The AI chatbot was developed by people who have had similar experiences with racism themselves. Here you'll find stability and initial support.
How do I know if something was racist?
Whether something is racist is determined above all by its impact on the person affected. If you feel hurt, excluded, or devalued through stereotypes, that needs to be taken seriously. Racism can be subtle — a question, a look, or an assumption can hurt. It's right to acknowledge your experience, talk about it, and seek support if needed. YOUNA helps you make clearer sense of the situation and offers you a protected space when you feel uncertain or overwhelmed.
How can I react when I witness racism in everyday life?
When you witness racist behavior, any reaction can make a big difference. You can actively intervene, name the behavior, or stand directly by the affected person's side. Quiet solidarity also helps — listening, offering support, or lending a hand. It's completely fine to respect your own limits. You're allowed to feel safe and to seek support yourself in dealing with the situation — YOUNA can offer you helpful support here too.
Limits of YOUNA
What YOUNA can do — and where others are needed. This is about the limits of digital self-help and where professional help becomes important.
What can't YOUNA do?
Even though YOUNA offers emotional support and input for your self-care, the AI chatbot has its limits. In acute danger, contact 110/112 (or your local emergency number). It is not a substitute for personal therapy and does not resolve acute danger situations! Here are further limits of YOUNA:
- No guarantee of completeness. Laws and procedures change; please verify these independently — YOUNA can also make mistakes.
- No acting on your behalf. YOUNA doesn't file reports, contact institutions, or delete posts for you.
How should I react in a dangerous situation?
If you find yourself in an acute dangerous situation, try to get to a safe place as quickly as possible. Seek support from people nearby, e.g. bystanders or colleagues. Call emergency services if you're directly threatened (110 in Germany). After that, you can get support from YOUNA. Your safety and quickly getting out of the danger zone always come first, before any legal or emotional steps follow.
Community & Getting Involved
How you can become part of YOUNA and support us. YOUNA thrives on its community. In this category you'll find ways to get involved and lend your support.
Who is the YOUNA community?
YOUNA's digital ecosystem works on multiple levels and pursues a holistic approach to helping coordinate difficult emotions and provide orientation. We want initiatives, communities, migrant self-organizations, and counseling services to benefit from this innovative Chatbot and gain visibility.
In close collaboration with multipliers, we share updates from YOUNA to stay in exchange this way as well. Would you like to be part of our network, or have your institution featured? Feel free to reach out to us.
How can I get involved with YOUNA?
Connecting the right people to make our mission more effective. Exchange with us on social media, or write us a message here so we can connect.
Want to support YOUNA? Talk to the chatbot and tell the people around you about it. Our innovative application moves people affected by racism and their allies an important step forward: the more people get involved, the louder our voice.
For job openings, feel free to check Join or apply on your own initiative.
What does the vision for the YOUNA community look like?
Over the next two years, during which YOUNA is being funded by renowned foundations such as the Crespo Foundation and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, we will keep developing the technology further and make YOUNA accessible to a broad public. With every use, YOUNA learns to respond better to the needs of people affected by racism. This way, the benefit for mental health, social participation, and social justice keeps growing in the long term.