Our deepest commitment begins with our team.

When unsettling uncertainty gripped our city, the rhythm of life stopped. Movement became risky, tension filled the air, and for a moment, everything felt suspended. Yet one thing could not pause, the National Child Helpline (116). Our helpline is a quiet promise to every child in Tanzania, and in those difficult hours, that promise depended on us remaining steady.

For us, a team member is never just a “human resource”. They are the very foundation of our mental health mandate, the steady voices, the gentle hearts, the people who offer a listening ear  for children when no one else can.

And during the unrest, that truth revealed itself with unmistakable clarity. When danger crept closer and uncertainty thickened, our mission didn’t meet its defining moment, our people did.

The turning point came when it became unsafe for our team to commute. With major routes blocked and movement restricted, the morning shift faced a profound choice: step back and wait for conditions to improve, or step forward and ensure that the line stayed alive for the children who might need them most.

They chose the line.

That night, a small group of counsellors and their manager decided to stay in the office for safety, sleeping on-site. By morning, we relocated them to a temporary base where they continued operations for the next three days. Even with unstable phone connectivity and communication barriers, the line stayed open because some of our counsellors showed up literally and figuratively. 

When the unrest finally eased and our team returned home, the immediate danger had passed but the emotional cost had not. The same people who slept on office floors, who steadied their voices for frightened children, who worked while unsure of their own safety… were carrying a weight no one could see.

The country had collectively held its breath, but our counsellors had been holding something deeper: the burdens shared with them by others, while quietly carrying their own.

We knew we could not simply return to business as usual. Just as they had shown up for the children of Tanzania, we needed to show up for them.

In response, we created a dedicated therapeutic space, not a meeting, not an organizational directive but a moment of collective exhale, to reground, reflect and heal. Held just days after the unrest subsided, the three-hour session brought together 21 counsellors and staff. It was intentionally designed to process trauma, rebuild inner calm, and remind each person: your wellbeing matters too.

We began with guided breathing and shared agreements, creating a safe emotional container. Then came the time for reflection. The story circle was the heart of the session. Team members opened up about their experiences fear, confusion, helplessness, exhaustion. Some had been closer to the chaos than others, but all had carried something heavy.

Our counselors and staff sharing different coping techniques.

We shared coping strategies, from prayer to honest conversations with loved ones.

After a brief movement break, we turned to journaling and meditation, quiet, grounding practices that allowed long-held emotions to surface and soften.

We ended by literally flipping the mat on the trauma experienced and creating a Messages of Hope wall of encouragement, gratitude, and unity. A reminder to each person that they do not walk alone. The session affirmed the truth at the core of our mandate: the wellbeing of those who care for others is as important as the care they provide.

Our counselors and staff during the flip the mat session.

This was not a one-time gesture. It marked a renewed, long-term commitment to the people who give this helpline its humanity. We are profoundly proud of every member of our team, their resilience and their unwavering commitment to children during one of the most challenging moments we have ever faced.

Our investment in their wellbeing is not optional. It is the strongest investment we can make in the future of the children we serve.

Lets remember, the work of peace begins with the peace we cultivate within ourselves. And together, we recommit to care, hope, and the unbroken line of the 116 Helpline.

Prepared by C-Sema's Communication Team.