麻豆约拍

Telephone helplines support millions of children every year with issues ranging from serious abuse to children who just want someone to chat to on the way home from school. Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from South Africa and Greece about supporting children through round-the-clock helplines, counselling and outreach.

Dumisile Cele, a trained social worker, is the Chief Executive Officer of Childline South Africa. Their 24-hour helpline is contacted around 300,000 times each year. Dumisile says the mental health challenges in children are especially driven by violent crimes, abuse and trauma perpetuated against them.

Stavroula Spyropoulou is a psychologist working at Smile of the Child in Greece. The organisation operates across the country and has over 400 staff and 6000 active volunteers. They give families immediate support in times of crisis, run children鈥檚 homes and outreach sessions in schools. Stavroula is the coordinator of their Center for Child Abuse and Exploitation.

Produced by Jane Thurlow