Inter-school logo competition for Children’s Helpline launched |28 March 2023
Students from all public and private schools can now start designing a logo for the 3-digit Children’s helpline, 116.
The Social Affairs department yesterday launched the inter-school logo competition to choose the official best logo for the 3-digit helpline, which became operational in late November 2021.
The launch ceremony at the Perseverance primary school was graced by the presence of First Lady Linda Ramkalawan; the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Patricia Francourt; the principal secretary of the Social Affairs department, Linda William-Melanie; member of the National Assembly for Perseverance Hon. Desheila Bastienne; the director for Social Affairs, Beryl Laboudallon; and head teachers from public and private schools.
The logo competition is open to all public and private schools from Primary One (P1) to Secondary Five (S5) students, and the criteria which the children will follow to create their logo will be given to schools throughout the week.
The Social Affairs department is looking for a logo that will clearly appeal to the children.
In her opening remarks, PS Linda William-Melanie said that the event was not just about the logo competition. “It marks another step in sensitizing both children and adults on the importance of having a children’s helpline,” she said.
Seychelles had a 6-digit phone number, followed by a 7-digit children’s helpline since the 1990s. PS William-Melanie said that these numbers had served its purpose well over the years and established itself as an important tool within the child protection system.
With the evolution of technology, and the need to increase more awareness and access to the children’s helpline in 2021, Social Affairs recently collaborated with the telecommunication companies in Seychelles to launch the first 3-digit toll free children’s helpline, the same number adopted internationally by many countries.
Since the introduction of the 3-digit helpline in November 2021, the line has increased from 273 calls for the year 2021 to 501 calls for year 2022.
PS William-Melanie said this is evidence of the need for this kind of service and that children and concerned citizens are making use of it to inform service providers.
Ms Laboudallon said the department decided to make this a competition to involve the participation of every child in Seychelles.
“This service is for the children themselves, we saw it to be fitting to get the creative works from the children and at the same time we are taking the opportunity to sensitize the children of Seychelles on this helpline,” she said.
The competition is expected to go on until the end of May and the winner will be announced on June 1 coinciding with Children’s Day.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the launch ceremony yesterday.
Diane Larame
Photos by Louis Toussaint
