Childline Eastern Cape

Listen to Kaycee's chat with Childline Eastern Cape Director Okule Mdodane right here :

Childline services began in KwaZulu-Natal in 1986 in response to the very high levels of child sexual abuse which characterize South Africa. Other provincial offices developed from this date with the National Office opening on 1st August 2003.

Our Commitment

Childline South Africa is committed through the support and capacity building of its affiliates, to:

developing appropriate social services including a 24-hour toll-free helpline and supportive therapeutic social services for children who have been victims of violence, and their families;
education and awareness-raising programmes facilitating the prevention of violence against children;
networking to establish strategic alliances to advocate for policy changes that will facilitate good management practices for abused children;
research into violence against children within the South African context; and
ongoing training and development of staff members and volunteers. Childline South Africa is an affiliation of regional Childlines. Each Province in South Africa, except the Northern Cape, has a regional Childline office to which the toll-free line for children is directed. The National Childline Office has a coordinating and development function.

Our Focus

Staff is therefore kept to a minimum and the focus is on:

the development of services to children through the support of the Provincial Childline Offices;
matters requiring a coordinated national input such as the development of new legislation and implementation of such legislation and policy;
research; and
training:

on law and policy relating to children and its application;
the criminal justice system professionals on issues relating to children as they interface with the law;
intersectoral work and cooperation in child protection;
therapy with abused children and their families;
rehabilitation of adults and children who commit offences against children; and
preparation of the child witness for court processes.

Child Protection is something we should do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, just like our Helpline. Help us reach more children by sharing our number - just three numbers away - 116!

Remember, you may call us 24X7 on 116 (We are free from all networks) OR you can visit our Online Counselling chatrooms (a D/deaf Friendly Service) Monday-Friday, 11 am-1 pm & 2-6 pm to chat with a counsellor by clicking on the link below:
https://chat.childlinesa.org.za/chat

How We Can Help You :

We want to make sure that we help you in any way we can. If you need us and you call, there are many ways to help you. We help you with education programmes (teaching you all about what abuse it and what your rights are), we talk to other people about how best to help children who come to us and we get involved in ensuring that the South African law protects you.

Here is a little bit more information about how we help :

The Toll-Free Counselling Helpline which deals with hundreds of queries from children and adults. You can call us on the toll-free line and we try to help you as best we can. You can call us about anything and a lot of children call us about things like Abuse; Depression; HIV/Aids; Relationship problems; Neglect; Bullying; Harassment and many more.

Prevention & Education programmes in schools, communities and where we are called to. If you haven’t had someone come to your school, call one of our regional offices to see if we can. We teach about how to prevent abuse and what abuse is. That way if someone is abusing you, you will know straight away.

Training of volunteers is something we have to do because we need all the help we can get to answer your calls on the toll-free line. We also provide our counsellors and staff with training when we see they need it so that we can provide excellent service to the children who call.

Networking & coordination of services to children. We talk with other organisations and individuals who are also helping children to see how we can work together.

Advocacy on children’s rights: this means we get involved when the government is writing new laws that affect children. Because we work with so many children, we know what they need.

We are here 24/7 - our Helpline is on 116. It is free from all networks!

Contact Details for the Eastern Cape :

Okuhle Mdodana : Director Childline Eastern Cape c) +27(0)81 281 4170e)childlineeasterncape@gmail.com

t) +27 (0)43 722 1382 childlineec.org.za

National Child Protection Week : 28 May to 4 June : National Child Protection Week is commemorated in South Africa annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Children's Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).

The campaign is led by the Department of Social Development in partnership with key government departments and civil society organisations rendering child protection services.