Heroes fight to save Childline
If Childline KZN does not raise the funding needing to stay open, this organisation will be forced to shut down. Do your bit to help keep this beacon of hope for abused and distressed children open,
CHILDLINE KZN is in dire financial straits which may see the organisation forced to shut down. The organisation was plunged into financial crisis after the National Lottery pulled its support and a large corporate donor moved its funding to youth sport.
Childline KZN currently operates two centres in Durban, one in Pietermaritzburg and satellite offices in nine townships across KZN. Of its 51 employees, the vast majority are social workers and counsellors. Last year Childline’s Crisis Line received 346 000 calls from abused children and its staff conducted close to 7000 individual therapy sessions. Lifeskills presentations in schools saw more than 60,000 school learners informed about social challenges such as teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, bullying, gender violence, child abuse, exploitation and neglect.
For the past eight weeks, Childline has run an aggressive media campaign in a bid to rescue the organisation.
“We received much assistance from the media who have supported us with exposure and limited advertising. We are indeed thankful to them. To date we have raised a total of R384,795 in donations and R108,675 from our SMS campaign. The funds raised thus far have only granted Childline KZN a temporary reprieve,” said Mervyn Sigamoney, Chairman of Childline KZN.
Unfortunately this is not enough to keep the organisation going. “At this stage we can either throw in the towel, or start a second burst. In keeping with the fact that we are ’champions’ of abused children and the afflicted, we have decided to fight on,” said Sigamoney.
In order to stay open, Childline KZN needs to raise R2-million or more in the next four weeks.
“To this end we are calling on businessmen, personalities and anyone who is networked and willing to raise funds, to join us in our hero-thon (telethon) which will take place on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October, at the Childline KZN Training Centre at 163 Percy Osborne Road, Morningside,” he said.
Childline KZN is not asking businessmen for money, “all we want is two hours of your time. We want you to come to Childline KZN, get on the phone and get your business partners, associates and contacts to come to the party and save Childline KZN,” he said..
If they get 100 participants to come through to their hero-thon, and each can raise an average R20,000, then the rescue will be complete.
Prospective participants and funders can contact Childline KZN on 031 312-0904 or fax 031312-6008 and speak to Schannel, or email superhero@childlinekzn.org.za
