Helpline in distress

Maria* picked up the phone to dial 179 when the last of her three children graduated and got married. She told the volunteer manning the helpline she had been a victim of domestic abuse for 30 years and was now ready to speak up, as her children had all settled down. After she was referred to professionals, her husband too sought Appoġġ’s help to manage abusive behaviour.
The 24-hour free service is also available to those who witness abuse. Such was the case for a flatmate who spoke up about an intellectually disabled woman who was being locked up for hours at a time in a bedroom with a bucket for her needs, Svetlana Buttigieg, who heads the support service, told this newspaper.
The line relies heavily on professionally trained volunteers, who support a team of social workers and psychologists. There are about 40 volunteers answering calls, but the agency needs at least another 70 to keep up the support line and the Programm Ulied Darna, which relies on a separate cohort of 40 volunteers.

The programme, limited to Appoġġ’s existing users, needs volunteers to train parents in budgeting and household skills, to mind children while parents are attending court or in hospital and...