On Thursday 19 September I had the honour of coordinating an interactive workshop for our network of child helplines. Designed to support our members, the training focused on fostering the exchange of skills and knowledge to improve accessibility in area with limited access, particularly in communities with restricted technological resources.
Hosted online, the “Accessibility in Low Access Areas” workshop gathered together committed professionals from across different regions, and was led by experts Progress Rudo Nangati and Dadirai Chigoya from our member Childline Zimbabwe. They discussed key demographics and the challenges in reaching children across different regions of the country. Network issues in border towns and language barriers due to Zimbabwe’s 16 languages were highlighted as significant obstacles, alongside limited access to technology – especially for minority and vulnerable groups.
They also shared several strategies informed by child helpline data to address some of these obstacles, including collaboration with researchers, universities, telecoms, school counsellors, police and local communities. Their initiatives were creative, including the use of mobile booths, bulk SMS campaigns, and interactive games. In addition, Childline Zimbabwe shared the adaptations to its services by learning sign language, thereby connecting these efforts to broader inclusion initiatives to ensure all children, regardless of their access to technology, can connect with a child-friendly support mechanism.
Background
This interactive workshop serves as an exclusive resource brought to our member child helplines as part of Child Helpline International’s Learning Strategy. This Strategy further enhances and supports the quality of services provided by child helplines, and also contributes to our network’s strength, coherence and positioning by improving the use of existing knowledge and enabling the co-creation of new knowledge. With this structured approach to learning, we aim to strengthen collaboration and create a more interconnected community of child helplines, ultimately leading to an elevated quality of services, which can enhance the impact and effectiveness of our network collectively.
Highlights
Learning Style
The workshop included several hands-on activities designed to reinforce the concepts discussed. One notable activity was smaller discussions on which areas of their respective countries the child helplines were receiving fewer contacts from.
Discussions focused on key challenges in supporting vulnerable populations. Language barriers emerged as a major issue in assisting refugees, with solutions including volunteer support, social media, schools, and private organizations helping to bridge the gap, particularly in the case of Ukrainian refugees. Access to services was another concern, especially in rural areas and regions lacking child helplines or phone access. Community monitoring, awareness campaigns, and successful bulk SMS initiatives were highlighted as effective tools for reaching and supporting children. In conflict zones and closed communities, limited access to phones and the internet restricts contact, making social media crucial for service accessibility. Platforms like TikTok are particularly important for reaching younger audiences, especially girls.
Attendees
The attendees were the heart of this training. In total, we were joined by 27 individuals, representing child helplines from various regions.
Key Takeaways
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In a world where children’s issues and landscape are continuously evolving, it is imperative that child helplines strive to ensure they are accessible and available where children are. This means constantly refining and expanding services to keep pace with the changing needs of young people.
For Childline Zimbabwe, the key takeaways are:
- Importance of continuous collaboration and learning of best practices among child helplines
- Reflection on how we can provide helpline services to children in emergency situations such as conflict affected areas.
- How we can actively engage with children in spaces they are!
Progress Rudo Nangati
Programmes Manager,
and Dadirai Chigoya,
Cell Centre Supervisor,
Childline Zimbabwe
Concluding Thoughts
Coordinating this workshop was an immensely fulfilling experience. I am grateful to Progress and Dadi, our expert speakers, and the dedicated participants for making this workshop an interactive learning experience for all.
For any child helpline staff considering this training, you can find the materials on our eLearning platform.
Laura Holliday
Learning Coordinator
