Childline ambassadors ready for Telethon

SOME of Durban’s most influential personalities are set to join forces with leading children’s helpline – Childline KZN – in its forth annual Telethon fundraiser. Next Wednesday and Thursday, 26 and 27 October will see volunteers converge on the Childline KZN office to support the cause.

The novel fundraising initiative will have participants commit an hour of their time to call on their network of friends and associates in a bid to raise much-needed funding for the children’s organisation. The non-profit organisation, which depends on generous donations to sustain its life-changing work, is the province’s largest and most prolific children’s charity.

Recognising that the commitment made by each telethon volunteer is as valuable as the donations received, the organisation is appealing to the public to heed the call to get involved this year.

“We are humbled by the generosity in response to the telethon each year, however, Childline KZN’s needs continue to far outstrip the support received. This year, our local superheroes have again come to our aid and we are hopeful that others will be inspired to assist,” director Nomvuyo Shabangu said.

Childline KZN, which now has 12 sites, opened its doors in 1986 with the aim of addressing the social ills affecting children and advocating for the rights of youngsters. They are a trusted refuge for distressed children throughout the province receiving more than 20 000 calls and 500 reports of abuse per month through its Crisis Line. Childline KZN services include outreach and rehabilitative programmes as well as therapeutic services aimed to empower and equip victims of abuse and their families to better cope with their trauma.

Speaking to Berea Mail, Childline KZN brand ambassador and comedian Carvin H Goldstone said he was happy to get on board and help raise funds for Childline KZN. “I also suffered abuse at the hands of a family friend in my childhood but only spoke to my parents about it much later in my teens, so any way to break the silence is important and something I wanted to get involved in,” he said.

Goldstone said he was about 4-years-old when the incident occurred and recalls trying to make sense of it. “I even spoke to my friends about it but not as a victim rather something I’d done but did not tell my parents at the time. I guess we all deal with childhood trauma differently so it is important for adults to be aware of the signs.”

Contact 031 312 0904 for more information.

Childline KZN’s short video click on https://vimeo.com/185628883