Help a call away for bullied kids

By Charmel Bowman

Imagine a helpline designed specifically for school children to air their grievances anonymously and confidentially, without fear of victimisation.

Well, imagine no more.

Durban resident Brian Adams launched Schoolsline last week, a platform for pupils nationally to report incidents at their schools.

"I came up with this idea a few years ago, but the timing now seems appropriate because of recent incidents of bullying and alleged rapes at schools," said Adams.

He said the recent spate of violence at schools, in which pupils and teachers had been killed, was a further reason why such an initiative was needed.

"The most important consideration is that Schoolsline offers children the opportunity to be heard anonymously, as they sometimes don't speak out because they fear being victimised.

"This initiative offers the 'good guys' the opportunity to report on the bad stuff that is happening around them."

Five teachers from Makhumbuza High School in Umlazi were suspended this month and one of them charged with raping a pupil.

One of the teachers, a 49-year-old, allegedly had sex with a 19-year-old pupil in the school's laboratory in 2008.

Forty pupils at the school reportedly said they had been victims of sexual offences at home or school.

In another incident, a Pinetown father laid charges against five pupils at Pinetown Boys' High after his 16-year-old son was allegedly physically and verbally assaulted.

A further 12 matric pupils from Parktown Boys' High in Joburg have appeared in court after being charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm at an initiation ceremony earlier in 2009.

"I am passionate about this project because of what I see around me, the incredible hurt and harm that are being done to our young people," said Adams.

"The line alone is not going to solve all the problems at our schools, but if schools promote the service and manage it correctly, no doubt it will make a difference in people's lives."

The helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to pupils across the country. Once a report is received it is "sanitised" to ensure the identity of the caller is not disclosed. The complaint is sent to the school in question via email. If the matter is urgent, Schoolsline operators will call the school directly.

"It is important that schools which receive the reports treat them as allegations only and do their own investigation before any action is taken.

"We can act as the bridge between the caller and the school by being in direct contact with the person who made the call and assist where we can," he added.

Adams said calls could be received in English, Afrikaans, Venda, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho and Tswana.

Individual schools pay a subscription fee, but the line is open to all pupils who need assistance. "We are charging a very low fee for schools to subscribe to this service. Currently, we are trying to secure funding for previously disadvantaged schools. For this service to have the infiltration it requires, we need to widen the net to include all schools."

Linda Naidoo, a spokesperson for Childline, however, said services such as a helpline for children should not be duplicated.

"I am not familiar with Schoolsline, but I think that people wanting to help should look at strengthening existing services."

How to contact Schoolsline:

FreeCall number 0800-SCHOOL;

SMS to 082 673 3333;

e-mail to school@beheard.co.za;

via a reporting template on the website www.beheard.co.za;

by fax to 0861-BEHEARD

• This article was originally published on page 13 of The Sunday Tribune on June 14, 2009