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| RapPort starts Peer-to-Peer helpline |
HELP is literally a phone call away for young people with social problems—and language barriers are no longer an issue.
The youth arm of the National AIDS Programme, RapPort, will be working around the clock to assist youths with issues that might be too sensitive or too uncomfortable to discuss with an adult. And all will be done over the phone by means of a Peer-to-Peer helpline.
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The helpline, which was described as a tool to enhance healthy behaviours by coordinator of the National AIDS Programme Aldora Robinson, was launched on Wednesday afternoon at the Ed Gartland Youth Centre in Providenciales.
Rapport will have accessible telephone lines in three languages (English, Creole and Spanish) every day with the main objective of being that ‘listening friend’ to young people.
Youths will not have to pay for the calls since Digicel, Lime and Island Com have waived the cost.
Persons ranging from teenagers to young adults, who will answer the calls, have been well trained to deal with all social issues and to give positive advice.
To Ms Robinson the helpline would not only aid the youngsters, but will have an overall effect on the TCI’s future.
“We realise that the youths need to be informed, not just by adults, but by their peers…this [helpline] would provide a safe place for young people to air their views about situations that can affect them.”
The lines are not just for those with problems, but for people who might also know someone with a problem.
Ms Robinson said that sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse and sexual violence are on a rise in the TCI and sometimes people make these mistakes because they lack proper information or guidance.
“We want to give them a chance to make healthy, smart choices…we want to see behaviour change among our youths.”
Guess speaker Home Affairs and Human Services Minister Karen Delancy congratulated RapPort and said that young people now have an avenue to be heard.
“They [the RapPort members] will be the voice of the voiceless.”
Ms Delancy spoke on behalf of Minister of Finance and Health Royal Robinson who was unavailable.
Director of Health Services in the Ministry of Health Dr Rufus Ewing, who spoke via the telephone, said that the helpline would bring down the barriers and provide a medium to help people come forward with their problems.
The helpline numbers are: 343-6763 (English), 343-6818 (Creole) and 343-6824 (Spanish). |
| [ 21-07-2009 ] |
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