Childline North West is currently facing significant financial difficulties that threaten its ability to continue operating. We urgently appeal to the Potchefstroom community and the wider North West region for financial support to ensure our sustainability.

The local helpline for children was established in response to the escalation in child abuse reports and the lack of an appropriate, responsive child protection system in the province.

Childline North West has provided a 24-hour toll-free counselling service since October 2000, when the line was linked to the National Childline system and all calls from the North West were referred to this line. Cases of a serious nature were referred to the appropriate government or non-profit service providers to ensure that the clients received the necessary follow-up responses.  There was a large increase in calls after this linkage. Childline North West was registered as a non-profit organisation (017-604 NPO) on 25 February 2002 and has operated as an independent NPO, in order to focus on service delivery to children and to expand the services offered to children.

Since 2002, when Childline North West was launched, the organisation is providing free telephonic counselling and referral services to all children and their families in the province. It has grown and developed into an effective respected service for children in the province.

Childline North West is receiving calls from children and adults concerned about children with problems ranging from child abuse (sexual, physical and emotional abuse) to poverty, family relationships, HIV/ Aids, domestic violence, disability, missing children, children with suicidal thoughts, migrant children, educational support and many more. Calls to the toll-free number is free of charge to the callers from Telkom landlines and all cell phone service providers.

Childline North West expanded its programmes to include therapeutic services by social workers.  This allows children who cannot afford professional therapy to have access to services in the J B Marks Municipality and the biggest part of the Matlosana Municipality and Lichteburg.

For many children who are abused, affected, and infected by HIV/Aids, poverty and violence in rural underdeveloped areas, the Childline help line is the first line of service that children and their parents engage with. This approach of prevention and early intervention has been proven as more effective than the re-active or secondary intervention.  This service is also free of charge and children, and their caregivers receive therapeutic intervention and other supporting services. The services build the resilience of individuals, families and communities and empower them with skills and knowledge to cope with their challenging circumstances and to address social dysfunctions themselves.

These services build resilience of individuals, families and communities and empower them with skills and knowledge to cope with their challenging circumstances and to address social ills themselves. The social workers conduct home visits and provide effective specialised services by taking the service to the children.

Childline North West has a proven history of rendering high quality services and plays a vital role in both the prevention and treatment of child abuse. The organization strives to represent sanctuary, support and the recognition that crimes against children will not go unchallenged.

Please contact the director of Childline North West Melindi van Rooyen @ 083 623 7639 or [email protected].