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Childline newsletter - Issue 1 - 2012
Childline - Zimbabwe
April 13, 2012

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From the Director

Welcome to Childline Zimbabwe's new and improved newsletter for 2012! Without the incredible support of the entire SPAR Zimbabwe team, none of this would be possible, thank you SPAR!

2012 for Childline Zimbabwe brings with it many hopes and missions. With an increase of 30% in our calls from December 2010 to December 2011, there is increased awareness of our services leading to more children and adults contacting the Helpline.

One of the valued Childline team members, who has been with Childline Zimbabwe for many years, once told me that children reflect the heartbeat of a nation, after my first six months at Childline Zimbabwe. I believe that this is the most accurate statement I have heard. Childline Zimbabwe is currently answering over 65, 000 calls per month from children across Zimbabwe reaching out for our help. This shows that our children are truly connected to the heartbeat of our nation, they feel what is happening and they need our help in many different ways.

With 13% of girls being sexually harassed at school and one in four children being abused by their very own care-givers, your support goes a long way in helping us reach out to the children of Zimbabwe who need our love, care and support. The Childline Zimbabwe is currently working round the clock to provide much needed support to children through our 24 hour toll-free helpline, accessible through a short digit, easy to remember number (116), as well as our free postal service, where children can write letters to us and post them free of charge. 116 is a professional service we offer free of charge to any child who has been affected by child abuse, an in order for our counseling services to be effective we provide additional social services support, linking children with necessary resources beyond the expertise of Childline such as legal assistance, police protection, overnight care in a place of safety, access to education etc. Childline does all this whilst advocating for the child's rights on an individual and national scale, using the data we collect to inform the decision makers in Zimbabwe of children's views and wishes and the services needed to ensure children in Zimbabwe are provided with the care they need to grow up into adults.

Many people ask what does Childline Zimbabwe actually do, well the answer is simple; we respond to and follow up on cases and calls from children and concerned citizens about children in need of help. While at the same time linking children in need of care and protection to the services available at a local, national and community level. We also use the data which we collect to inform and advocate for the increases access, availability and improvement of child protection and other child centered services such as health, nutrition and education. Childline Zimbabwe in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Services operates as hub in Zimbabwe's child protection circle and we are continually advocating for its improvement to better serve the children of our country.

I truly hope that you find this newsletter fun and interesting to read, while at the same time giving you key facts about Childline and the services we provide. I hope that this newsletter continues to speak to every parent, teacher, child and anybody who has responsibility over a child. That makes us al, the entire society to take responsibility and rise up against all that threatens the well-being of our children and future leaders of our beloved country Zimbabwe.

Justine Passaportis

National Director, Childline Zimbabwe

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