Children's helpline launched in Indonesia

Children celebrate National Children's Day

This year's National Children's Day in Indonesia marked the launch of a new child helpline in Banda Aceh, which Plan is supporting together with other local and national organisations.

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province launched the helpline to help boost efforts to provide a safe environment for children living in the post-conflict region, which is also trying to recover from the 2004 tsunami.

The helpline - which is appropriately called TESA (Telepon Sahabat Anak, or Telephone for Children) - is a toll-free service for children affected by violence. Callers can dial 129 to talk to experienced staff, who refer them to medical doctors, psychologists, lawyers and police officers. Counsellors are also ready to give face-to-face counselling to children who need it.

The Banda Aceh Programme Support Manager Richard Sandison said; "TESA is a programme implemented to help children who experience violence, neglect, trauma, separation from families or conflict with law.

"Issues such as separated and unaccompanied children, abuse, exploitation and child-trafficking are major concerns, especially after the 2004 tsunami. But TESA is one way in which children can access support and help."

Plan is supporting other community-based efforts to strengthen protection for children. These include training teachers and village representatives, who all have a vital role to play in protecting vulnerable children.

Banda Aceh has recently undergone historical political changes. The signing of a peace agreement between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement in August 2005, ended more than three decades of conflict in the province. This help-line offers a tremendous opportunity to establish a long-lasting protective environment for Acehnese children.

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