Help is just a text message away

TECHNOLOGY has a role to play in assisting those battling problems such as addiction, abuse, anger, low self-esteem, suicide, homosexuality, depression and abortion.

MobieG, a non-profit organisation based in Ferndale, Johannesburg is using Mxit as a platform to counsel those between the ages of 10 and 35 who need help.The organisation’s executive director, Stephnie Crouse was herself abused as a child. “I was sexually molested between the ages of three and seven by my grandfather who was a serial paedophile,” she explained.

Ms Crouse pointed out that abusers have ways of silencing their victims. MobieG, she said, is trying to combat this problem by giving victims a voice through this free service, which has been operating since July 2010.”In that time we have already counselled 43 000 young people,” she said.

Ms Crouse’s grandfather began raping her siblings after she turned seven. “Since I found out what he did I have wanted to give everyone a voice, so that they can feel safe and able to talk to someone if they are being abused,” she said.

All facilitators are trained by MobieG in text-based counselling techniques and all are qualified in the fields in which they counsel. “The fact that they [young people] can talk to MobieG anonymously is very appealing as they get real-time responses,” added Ms Crouse. If the client needs additional assistance, MobieG refers them to other state specialists.

To make use of this free service, which depends on donations from private individuals, companies and churches to survive, simply download Mxit on your phone. This can be done by going to www.mxit.com, then to Mxit applications. Search for MobieG, add the application, open MobieG and select the help you need.

Counsellors are online between 7pm and 9.30pm Monday to Thursday and between 9pm and 11pm on Sundays. For more information, contact Ms Crouse at ops@mobieg.co.za