Dedicating four hours a week for a noble cause can hardly be a waste of time for even the busiest of people.
And those who have patience to be an empathetic listener and skills to counsel grief-stricken people out of drastic spur-of-the-moment calamitous decisions may even end up saving a few precious lives, making that well spent.
That is what Maithri Kochi, a non-governmental organisation and a member of Befrienders India working towards suicide prevention through a helpline, offers while inviting volunteers.
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“We now have 30-odd volunteers ranging from housewives to professionals, which is not sufficient for our line of service, which is to offer succour to the edgy and anxious. The whole idea is suicide prevention with public participation,” said Rajesh R. Pillai, a volunteer with Maithri Kochi and president of Befrienders India.
Maithri receives, on an average, six to seven calls a day during its normal working hours between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The length of the calls varies from 30 minutes to hours depending on the state of mind of the caller. “Anxiety and depression owing to ruptured relations continue to be the primary cause behind the calls,” Mr. Pillai said.
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No age limit or other conditions have been set for candidates applying to become potential volunteers, Mr. Pillai said.
Those short-listed will be given a three-day training starting May 5.
For more details contact: 0484-2540530, 98473-35553.