SPAR ZAMBIAS SUPPORT TO LIFELINE

“More than two thirds of children growing in Zambia from the age group of one to eighteen years of age are facing some form of abuse ranging from sexual, physical and emotional.” Moses Malunda, President of Lifeline Zambia.

These children very often have no one to turn to for help, they usually suffer in silence; but the 116 lifeline and childline has been trying to change this.

According to Mr Malunda the organization has two products, which are the Lifeline and the Childline for Children in distress but all under the 116 number.

Florence Nkhuwa who is the Executive Director of Lifeline Zambia attests to the fact that the line receives many calls from children and that on average there is a call every two minutes.

“The complaints range from Child abuse but teacher pupil relations are the highest reports we get.” She said

Mr Malunda admits that when it was formed the organization struggled through diverse challenges that threatened to derail it from its course.

“Timely interventions from our corporate partners ensured that we stay the coursem of helping being given to thousands of children who previously had no voice nor platform to speak out.”

Mr Malunda adds that counseling and medical advice has been given to thousands who have called the call center.

 “More can still be done when we come together, when we pull our resources together and strive to make Zambia the model of using the 116 childline as a tool for child protection.”

This is what Spar wants to help do according to Mr O’Donnell; who is the Chairman of Spar

“They assist children in need and that is why SPAR Zambia is honored to become the first corporate partner of Childline here in Zambia. ” he says

Mr  O’Donnell reveals that the sponsorship is to the tune of KR 150,000 annually as well as donation boxes in each Spar store countrywide.

“”We are raising awareness about the number and the 116 logo has been incorporated into our plastic bags, our website has information about the service, we have the posters as well as the donation boxes.” Mr O’Donnell said

The chairman however  added  that Spar cannot do this alone and needs the support of its customers to donate for this cause and to spread the word to their friends and families.

“The more people we can inform about the 116 which is not only a toll free 24-hour service but also links children to services for their long term care and rehabilitation the better.”  He said.

His sentiments are echoed by Annie Sampa the Child Protection and Gender Focal Point Officer at UNICEF who says that for Child Line to function there is need for resources.

“They need both human and financial resources to function so I would like to urge members of the public to drop their change in the boxes in order for there to be resources to run this programme.”

A  Lusaka resident Matthias Mbula who was found putting some money into a box at Spar Arcades said that for him it had become a habit to just drop change there.

“I have two daughters so I feel that this is the best way for me to help, sometimes when I forget my seven year old daughter reminds me. Today the child in need can be my friends tomorrow it can be mine.”  Dr Mbula says

The high rates of abuse in the country are one of the driving factors behind the Lifeline number.

Mr O’Donnell says that the 116 number received 23,645 calls in 

December last and that with each passing month more children call in.

“With each passing month, more children call in but gaps still remain in the service as Childline Zambia is at the moment unable to provide services to every child who contacts them.” Mr O’Donnell says.

But he assures Zambia that Plans to improve services to ensure 100 percent capacity are under way and SPAR Zambia is fully committed to supporting these plans.

SPAR Zambia is globally the fourth SPAR apart SPAR South Africa, SPAR United Kingdom and SPAR Zimbabwe from to support the free emergency number service for children in need.

Betty Nalungwe who is the (United Nations International Children’s Education Fund) UNICEF Senior Communication Assistant says that Spar Zambia’s support to Lifeline should be commended and asked them to expand to other organizations.

According to Mike Yeatman who is the Chief Executive Officer for Spar Zambia, said that each of the twelve stores in Zambia has its own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He gave examples of Chipata which a school for the deaf as well Spars support for the paediatric unit at University Teaching Hospital as well as Mother of Mercy Hospice plus Childline.

“Globally Spar supports the health sector in various ways our CSRs in various countries have always been in that sector.”  Said Mr Yeatman

Mr Yeatman says that by pooling together different areas of expertise, funding and determination is the only way we can truly make a change.

Mike Yeatman and Florence Nkhuwa

 It is this expertise that Plan Zambia has brought to Lifeline; a service which Tim Budge Country Director of Plan Zambia says grew from an idea.

He commends the Zambian Government, the United Nations, International NGOs and Spar Zambia for their support to Lifeline Zambia.

Mr Budge says that Plan Zambia supports Lifeline Zambia by providing some direct funding from the Dutch Government.

Tim Budge and Mark O'Donnell

“We are also on the steering committee of Lifeline Zambia, so our support ranges from strategic planning, management and also making sure that Childline Zambia becomes the best childline in Africa and the World.

“Our support involves been a critical fiend in terms of Technical and Financial networking.” Mr. Budge says.

This networking is vital and needs to be long term which is the kind of support Mr Yeatman says SPAR is giving Lifeline Zambia.

This will help abused children have a voice and compassionate ear to turn to.