22 May 2025

The Government of Japan has granted Childline Botswana Trust Fund a total of US$85 113 which will go towards the construction of a helpline call centre at Childline Botswana’s headquarters in Gaborone.

Speaking at a handover of funds, donated under the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Project (GGP), the Ambassador of Japan to Botswana, Mr Yusuke Shindo, noted that child abuse remained a widespread global concern.

He highlighted that despite Childline Botswana’s active role in child protection, the organisation currently operated without a dedicated call centre, which limited its ability to respond promptly and effectively to children in need.

“While Botswana has implemented programmes to reduce child abuse and violence, there is still a significant gap between the rising number of cases and the capacity of existing interventions,” he said. Mr Shindo added that the new call centre would be equipped with an advanced telecommunications system, drastically improving operational efficiency compared to the current system, which only allows one call at a time.

He expressed hope that the call centre would play a pivotal role in closing service delivery gaps and urged stakeholders to continue committing to the protection and well-being of children.

Deputy Director of Learner Support Services at the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Ms Thapelo Moalusi, noted the rise in cases of child violence reported each year, saying the new call centre was a beacon of hope and protection for vulnerable children.

“With its state-of-the-art facilities, the centre will enable quicker responses and wider reach to children and families across Botswana,” she said.

Ms Moalusi reaffirmed Botswana’s alignment with international statutes promoting child welfare, referencing The Children’s Act and The Persons with Disabilities Act, both of which uphold the fundamental rights of children. She extended gratitude to the Embassy of Japan for its support and applauded Childline Botswana for three decades of dedicated service.

Giving an overview of the project, Childline Botswana Executive Secretary, Mr Olebile Machete, shared that the call centre would feature a reception and waiting area, two call rooms (each fitted with four telecommunication systems), two offices, a meeting room, kitchen, bathrooms, and a storeroom.

“The upgraded system will allow us to handle over 3000 calls per month,” he said, adding “we will be able to provide telephonic counselling and refer callers to critical services more efficiently.”

Mr Machete said while Childline’s toll-free number 116 currently operated until 11.00pm, the organisation had extended its reach to social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

“In the future, we aim to operate our helpline 24 hours a day,” he said.

In 2024, Childline Botswana handled approximately 3 800 counselling cases. With the new system, the organisation anticipates an 80 per cent increase in the number of cases handled and a 50 per cent rise in call volume. ENDS