May 17 is the International Child Helpline Day which is dedicated to celebrating the work of child helplines all over the world.

Child helplines are crucial in ensuring that children and youth in need around the world are listened to and assisted.

In Malawi, Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) established the Tithandizane Helpline Service in 2006 as an alternative reporting mechanism for abuse and violence against women and children in the country.

It is now seven years since the Tithandizane Helpline was later transformed to become the National Child Helpline in March 2011 under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare.

The helpline acts as a referral agent, source of information as well as providing other support services like Safe Places for victimized children in the country.

Tithandizane Child helpline service has national wide coverage and the helpline toll free number 116 is accessible in all the districts.

The service is available to all mobile network operators in Malawi namely MTL, TNM, Airtel and Access subscribers and young people can call the line at no cost at all.

YONECO also developed a Tithandizane Helpline Application to help people facing different forms of abuse in the country.

The app can be downloaded on all YONECO websites namely www.yoneco.org and www.yonecofm.com.

However, all android users can also access this app on google play store by searching Tithandizane Helpline App.