Ayanna Gellineau programme co-ordinator.
Photo: Wendy-Ann Duncan

By Camille Bethel

Childline has created a space where young people from the ages of five to 21 can vent and find some kind of solution to their problems. Today, the organisation is needed more than ever as the country grapples with increasing cases of child sexual abuse.

The service, which was started in 2002 by chairperson Diana Mahabir-Wyatt under the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is a free, confidential, listening and counselling service.

It began with just seven volunteers and the telephone lines were open three days a week, four hours a day. Today, there are approximately 40 volunteers and the lines are open six days a week, eight hours a day.

But that is not enough, programme co-ordinator Ayanna Gellineau said in an interview at her Belmont office. More volunteers are needed.

We want you!

Volunteerism, said Gellineau, has a shelf life attached to it.

“There are people who volunteer consistently for six months or more but they have other things happening in their lives which may make them inconsistent. So we constantly need to train volunteers in order to keep the lines operational,”

she explained.

Childline will begin its first of two training sessions for this year from June 3 to July 29, where volunteers will be taught vital telephone skills.

“Listening skills of how to help on a telephone, paraphrasing and empathy are all taught so when they get on the line, they are prepared,” said Gellineau.

Various non-governmental organisations will be brought in to look at some of the issues that affect those who call in. This, Gellineau explained will gives volunteers the confidence they need when referring callers to these NGOs for help. More youth involvement is wanted in this batch of volunteers.

“If you are 17 and over, have time, think you can be committed to it and understand the concept of confidentiality, we want you.”

Explaining why confidentiality is important, Gellineau said people who call share very intimate details that they have to know will not go further.

“Volunteers also need to be empathetic and very patient because we do get crank calls,” she said.

Calls increasing

Childline receives at least 30 answered calls a day.

“These calls come from young people who have problems with their boyfriends, STDs, Aids, pregnancy, depression, family issues, drugs and even children who want a story read,” said Gellineau.

Parents having problems with their children call the line, as well as concerned members of the public.

“There are adults who call to report cases of child sexual abuse which is something we take very seriously.”

“Since the death of six-year-old Sean Luke, calls on child sexual abuse has tripled, we get at least two calls a day on child abuse everyday on an average with a lot of kids calling,” said Gellineau. “Before it was mainly adults calling, but children are now calling and saying, ‘I’m being hurt and I need it to stop.’ Once we get such a call, we use a three-prong approach, by calling the police, national family

services and students services division.”

“We check up with callers and let them know if they need to call us it’s a free call,” said Gellineau.

This, she said, has been made possible by TSTT, with whom Childline is currently in talks.

Running by faith

Like most NGOs, Childline suffers from a lack of finances.

“We need more volunteers as well as more funds, staff and most importantly a sponsor,” said Gellineau.

Financial constraints have made making telephone calls difficult

she said.

When Childline first started, Atlantic LNG came on board as

a sponsor but at present, there

is none.

“We get cheques from companies at times like Methanol Holdings who gave us a cheque that will keep us going for the next two months, but Childline is, at present, being run by faith.”

Contributing to the expense, said Gellineau, is the high cost of calling cell phones.

Everyone has a cell phone, she said, so all of the calls they make are cell calls, which are costly.

“The child has a cell phone, the police officer has one. I think we need cell phones just to make cell calls,” she said.

Staffing is also a major problem.

“Right now, we have a staff of one. We have no outreach person and no full-time supervisor. It is not supposed to be that way. When a new batch of listeners come on board, they need to be supervised.”

Additionally, Gellineau said, they can barely pay for electricity.

“Having no money is very hard and at times scary because the phones are electric. I am amazed that we have been able to do so much with no money.” she said. “It is hard but it’s not stopping us.”