International day of SOS lines for help and support of the children in the world.
On the occasion of 17 of May - International day of SOS lines for help and support of the children in the world, First World Children’s Embassy MEGJASHI informed the public about the situation of our free SOS telephone for children and young 0800 12222 as well as recalled the importance of the lines for help and support.
The SOS telephone for children and young (0800 12222) within the First World Children’s Embassy MEGJASHI continuously has been working 16 years.
During the period of 1993 – 2008 on our SOS telephone for children and young 0 800 1 22 22 we have registered 17. 407 calls. In the 2008, the SOS telephone for children and young 0800 12222 answered 360 calls and took action upon 199 cases. The calls in 2008 were regarding problems of abuse and violence upon children (39,19), family relations (34,17), legal matters (7, 35), school problems (5,53), prostitution, juvenile delinquency (2,51).
Comparing with 2007, during 2008 the percent of calls regarding the abuse and violence upon children has been increased (for 25,76%) family relations (FOR 9, 55%), question regarding legal matters (for 3,8%) and others.
There are many reasons why children call on SOS free telephone number 0800 12222. The children are vulnerable group in every society. They are involved in the family problems and depend on adults’ steps, which not always act conscious and correct with the children. That is way the SOS lines for help gives them opportunity to get help and express their problems. The function of the SOS telephones is very important and significant, because they are significant mechanism of connection with the children, which provides the voice of every boy or girl to be heard. Their mission is to answer upon the children needs for care and protection. Its good to know that children are separated from the help/support only by one call.
This service is provided by many young people, students and professionals, psychologists, social workers, lawyers ect. on volunteer basis. They are the firs who are dealing with the request for help. In the same time, the First World Children’s Embassy MEGJASHI, upon taken action on this cases, cooperates with the Ombudsman, and for certain cases when there is need directs its intervention towards the police, courts, Centers for social work, schools and other relevant institutions.
The First World Children’s Embassy MEGJASHI is part of the international network Child Helpline International – which unites SOS services for help of children from the countries world wide. On the 17 of May together we celebrate the fact that none of the children is alone.
SOS free line for children and young 0 800 1 22 22 provide services which are very important for help of children and protection of their rights. We appealed to the representatives of the Government, local self government, telecommunications services and social responsible business partners to support financially SOS lines for children help.
In the same time we want to gratitude the Macedonian telecommunications which since 2005 provide free line for those who calls on our SOS telephone for children and young.
For any further information please contact the following persons:
Jagoda Naskovska, social worker 076 836 710 and Maja Fotevska, special education teacher 071 846329 | 
