In 2010 several child helplines from developing countries will join Child Helpline International's specialist training programme to develop their SMS text messaging service. Child Helpline International is the global member network of child helplines, working to protect the rights of the child.

‘CHI is the leading light in the fight against child abuse. Connecting young victims to circles of support, sharing expertise across borders, bringing an informed voice to global discussions… We need more children to get (this) help, more children's voices to be heard.' Her Majesty Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan at CHI's International Consultation in Jordan.

Target group

Child helplines cannot exactly predict the number of children reached as the service is entirely demand-driven by the child:  we do not ask  children what their problems are, they tell us directly. However CHI can calculate the potential number of children reached through the level of tele-density and whether a service is toll-free or not: Number of children nationally under 18 years, divided by 1000, multiplied by the tele-density figure. (Taking into account whether the service is toll-free)

With each child helpline reaching on average 152,000 children per year (reference: CHI's 2007 data) we expect the impact of this project to be substantial. In addition, the project can be scaled up easily and affordably in the future to include almost one hundred other child helplines.

Project plan:

1) Host a specialist webinar for interested member child helplines (potential of over 100 child helplines), with child helpline expertise available from Ireland and Switzerland. This ensures the sharing of best practice at the earliest level.

2) Application to CHI from child helplines who are ready and able to implement the service and maintain sustainability. (The toll-free status of mobile calls/SMS's to child helplines is highly desirable).

3) Child helpline expert  prepares training programme child helplines join programme and receive training.

4) Development of a ‘how to' manual for counsellors answering the SMS's from children.

5) Consultant supports the technical implementation of the service at the helpline level.

Phenomenal growth rates in the mobile sector have been able to link children to the social services they need.   Several studies are beginning to demonstrate the positive impact that mobile phones are having on economic development and social capital. This creates a vast opportunity for child helplines in developing countries to reach out to children in need of care and protection.

Why this project?

There are three reasons why offering an SMS text messaging help service for children just makes sense:

1) Affordability: At the moment children are only able to receive help via the mobile by calling. In some cases, the cost to the child to call can be too much. By offering an SMS service, children will not  need to think twice about contacting the helpline when they need help because it is highly affordable.

2) Anonymity: Research undertaken by the Dutch child helpline has shown that if the anonymity of the child is protected (such as via online and SMS services) the child addresses his/her issue quicker than by phone. In addition, boys outstandingly prefer using an instant messaging service  to picking up the phone.

3) Growth in mobile use in developing countries:   Evidence by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) demonstrates the effectiveness of developing countries focusing their attention on the mobile industry. As fixed telephone lines have been decreasing, the number of mobile subscribers has been expanding.    
For example, in Namibia there are around two million inhabitants  with over 90% of the country covered by mobile telephony.    With 11% already owning a mobile phone, and with only 6% having access to a land line,  Namibia would be a perfect candidate for the SMS help project (http://mobileactive.org/).  

Child Helpline International:
In 2007 child helplines across the world received around 11,4 million contacts (via phones, mobiles, the internet, postal services and directly working with children in the local community) from children and young people in need of crisis intervention, rehabilitation, counselling or someone to talk to. However there were also an additional 11,7m unanswered calls made by children. We believe that no child should be alone, and that every child deserves to be heard and receive the support they need when they ask for help.

The overall objective of CHI is to contribute to Millennium Development Goal 8: Develop global partnerships for development, target 18: In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies— especially information and communications technologies.