The 076 has worked in the city of Kherson since February 1999. The skilled specialists: psychologists and social workers work there. All of them are consultants-activists.

All of the consultants participated in special training at School of Volunteers and attended "Theory and Practice of Telephone Psychological Consulting" course (cycle of primary specialization on telephone consulting and practical assignments. Working on the hotline the consultants-activists additionally study in ballint groups, go over individual consultations for more effective work and assist callers to the hot-line. Skilled specialists Gestalt psychologists conduct teaching at School of Volunteers, for ballint groups and individual consultations.

50 persons have studied at School of Volunteers from 1999 to 2002. Thanks to what they have learned at the School the volunteers continue to work at both "Successful Women" and other establishments of the city of Kherson. As for the volunteers, who had worked on the hot-line for a year and more, they were recommended to the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy school of social work.

WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THE HOTLINE ACTIVITY?

There is one main notion on the basis of these rules. It is human value. Everyone is valuable by his life and by its inner world with own mysteries. Everyone has his own personality, which includes self-valuation, living principals, skills, experience and ideology.

WHAT ARE THE TASKS OF HOTLINE?

Firstly, the hotline is designed to provide support. Its main task is to support people in crisis or difficult situation. Any human has the right to be listened to and to be understood. The hotline service is available to everyone regardless of the caller's social status, nationality, age or the health condition. Callers may share any problem, especially those that are difficult to discuss with relatives or acquaintances.

WHO CALLS THE HOTLINE?

The callers talk about unhappy and sometimes happy love; about fears of life, friends, parents; about conflicts at school, at the workplace, in family; about fear of the unknown; they ask how to protect themselves from AIDS and other STDs. Support of consultants is very important in the moments when caller encounters loss of relatives and close people. Sometimes they ask to settle the relations with relatives or friends. Sometimes they complain about their relatives' lack of understanding and cruelty.

There were 3008 calls in 2001. The working hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Monday through Friday. Callers aging 5 to 60 call the hotline.

Age of the callers:

• Under 18 - 9%
• Under 25 - 20%
• Under 35 - 11%
• Over 35 - 16%
• Not identified - 44%

Marital status of the callers::

• Divorced - 4%
• Married - 18%
• Widows - 1%
• Not identified - 66%

The hot-line service is free of charge. The consultants also tell about steps to take necessary not to become a victim of human trafficking and how to protect themselves from violence.

Since the very beginning the hotline service is supported by the Executive Committee, Family and Youth Department, Kherson. Now the activity is being supported by WINROCK INTERNATIONAL under USAID funding.