From 4–5 November 2025, we had the privilege of co-facilitating an in-person training in Windhoek, Namibia, under the Voice Up Africa project, focused on online harms and how child helplines can respond effectively.
As Childline South Africa’s Online Counselling Manager for the past 13 years, this topic is deeply personal to me. The digital world is constantly evolving, and so must our strategies to protect children within it.
Together with my colleague, Kapesi Chakuwamba, we embarked on this journey with excitement and purpose. Even before arriving in Namibia, we were immersed in developing the training manual alongside the team at Child Helpline International, shaping content that would resonate across borders. The energy was palpable from the start, and it only grew stronger once we met the 22 passionate trainees in Windhoek.
In a field where compassionate fatigue is high, equipping teams with tools for wellness is not optional—it’s essential.
Training Modules That Matter
The training focused on the following modules: Introduction to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse (TF-CSEA), Legal and Policy Frameworks, Prevention Strategies, Responding to and Managing Disclosures, and Self-Care for Child Helpline Professionals.
Of these, the module on Responding to and Managing Disclosures resonated most strongly with many participants and me. This module forms the backbone of how our counsellors handle sensitive calls, and it was heartening to see the trainees engage with such depth and empathy.
The responsiveness of the group was overwhelming. We were welcomed with open arms, and the exchange of cultural gestures—like their special applause and our thunder clap and Olele energiser dance—added warmth and connection to the sessions. It reminded me that while Africa is one home, each region brings its own rhythm, language, and lived experience.
One of the most rewarding aspects was delivering the self-care module. We reminded participants that “you cannot pour from an empty cup,” a message that resonated deeply and left them with a key takeaway: their own Self Care Tree, showing how their roots keep them grounded and how important the fruits of their work are.
In a field where compassionate fatigue is high, equipping teams with tools for wellness is not optional—it’s essential.
Community-Led Awareness and Collaboration
Beyond the training modules, we were inspired by the local Childline office’s creative awareness strategies.
One particularly powerful example was LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia’s long-standing radio programme for children, recorded by children themselves. Uitani ChildLine Radio has been on air since 2005 and remains the only radio show in Namibia produced for children by children. Guided by the slogan, “we talk about what you talk about,” the programme educates, advocates, and entertains, while placing children and teenagers at the centre.
Rooted in the principles of child participation, children’s rights, and child protection, its impact is far-reaching—raising continuous awareness and reaching communities that are sometimes otherwise inaccessible. Alongside this, the use of branded headrest covers in taxis to spread safety messages offered another powerful example of community-rooted advocacy in action.
Looking Ahead
This experience would not have been possible without the support of Child Helpline International, the Voice Up Africa team—Joyce Karigia and Alessandra Bertone—who entrusted us with this opportunity, and Laura Holliday, who travelled all the way from Amsterdam to stand alongside us and support us through each step of the training.
We are also deeply grateful to Lifeline/Childline Namibia for their hospitality, warmth, and openness. Thank you, Nicolette, Elize, and Shamyn—your generosity made us feel at home and enriched the entire experience.
This training was more than a professional milestone; it was a reminder of the power of connection, collaboration, and care. As we move forward, we hope this experience contributes to stronger national and regional responses to online safety and child protection. Personally, I carry with me the joy of shared laughter, deep learning, and the thunder clap that echoed across borders. Though we may have left Namibia, this will remain a special experience in our hearts.
Bhavna Lutchman
Online Counselling Manager
Childline South Africa
