Youth online support webpage launches chat service

A webpage offering children and young people online support launched new char and forum tools this morning in Valletta. kellimni.com is a joint effort between SOS Malta, the Salesians of Don Bosco, Aġenzija Zghazagh and Aġenzija Appoġġ, who are seeing to the progressive development of local child and adolescent online support services, under the guidance of Child Helpline International. 

The services offered include targeted online support through e-mail, chat and online forums for support. The support service is rendered by trained volunteers. The volunteers provide immediate, confidential and unbviased support and when further assistance is needed cases are referred to other professional agancies.

The portal is aimed at children and youths who want someone to listen to them and who can provide assistance. It allows service users to express their concerns and talk about the issues directly affecting them. The portal provided an opportunity for young people to reach out for help and support through channels of communication that are easily accessible to them. 

Claudia Taylor-East from SOS Malta described the initiative as an innovative tool that allows the different stakeholders involved to share best practices and create a network.  She added that the multi-agency programme would help in overcoming the fragmentation in social services by avoiding duplication and being more cost-effective.

Taylor-East said the programme is ground-breaking because it involves the state, the church and civil society. However she also urged the private sector to get involved and said that if a corporate partner joins the initiative this would enable the programmes to grow and remain up to date.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport said the initiative is in line with the government's youth policy that has so far seen the establishment of Aġenzija Zghazagh and the youth information webpage.

Nicola Critien from SOS Malta explained that the website which was unofficially launched in 2011 has already received over 22,000 visits and noted that the challenges ahead include gaining more trust within professional circles, attract more users and strengthen its human resources.