COVID-19 Response

When the pandemic began, Totya Platform worked quickly to ensure that our staff and the people we serve were safe. Fourteen months later, we not only continue, but have expanded many on-line services.

We continue to provide emergency rescue services to the people of Mpigi District through our 24/7 emergency lines 0759 296003(Airtel) and 0785 673788(MTN). Our online channels and Toll-Free Hotline all remain open, taking calls, chats, and texts from community members facing sexual violence and abuse.

But with this new devastating wave hitting Uganda in May which has caused the government to announce new containment measures which have seen schools and businesses close, restriction on movement, and a migration of people from the urban areas to the rural areas, we have had to modify our service delivery methods. With more emphasis being put on providing online counselling and coaching, suspending in-person counselling, community awareness and home monitoring visits, we are however working to continue our emergency response in collaboration with the Mpigi Police, health and para-social workers

We must not forget; SAFETY FIRST! for our staff, clients and community. Our first priority is to the survivors who look to us to walk with them in their healing journey, to those who rely on us for help, and to our staff. This means that while we are anxious to see and support each other in person, we must first find ways to do so safely. And, true to Totya Platform’s long-held values and practices, we will continue to take the individual circumstances of sexual violence survivors into consideration as we navigate this new normal.

Currently we have modified our programming to keep our communities safe in the following ways;

To keep our communities safe during this pandemic, we have put a halt on all in-person visits both to our office and the community, this means activities like; community awareness visits, in-person counselling, home monitoring visits and self-help/support group meetings have been put on hold. We continue to research and innovate new ideas on how best to provide an alternative during this period.

Online Counselling and Coaching: this will continue and will be strengthened even more in months to come as we direct more focus and resources in this area. Since this has been an important part of our mission to empower survivors of sexual violence to freely and openly speak about their experience through safe spaces. Hence promoting their growth in communities and their mental, social-cultural and economic status.

Our hotline (toll-free) will remain open and fully staffed as usual between 8AM – 6PM, Monday to Friday and 10AM – 3PM on Saturdays and Sundays. We know that home is not a safe place for everyone, and that it could expose one to sexual violence. It is therefore our goal to ensure that everyone that needs us can call the hotline and find the support they need. We think of the hotline as our front door – and our door is open. The hotline can be used to speak to a counsellor as one will always be ready on the other end of your call to speak to you, you could also use this number to request post-abuse emergency assistance, or if you just need to talk to someone about your experience, or ask any questions relating to sexual violence/abuse

With effect from 1 July 2021 the government will stop collecting the OTT [tax] on all social media communication this means it is going to be cheaper and easier to reach us via WhatsApp, you can chat with a Totya life-coach/counsellor, share your experience or ask any questions relating to sexual violence, you can also request for support in reporting a case to the police, following up your case or referral to a legal entity to provide legal advice.

These are located at Totya Platfrom on Facebook and @TotyaPlatform on Twitter also remain open and can be used to request for and receive counselling, and any other post-abuse assistance.

Via SMS to +256 759 296 003 (for Airtel) and +256 785 673788 (for MTN) or through any of the other methods mentioned above you can request a call back from an Agent/Counsellor at Totya Platform.

When a survivor of sexual violence  reaches out to us requesting for post-abuse emergency assistance such as; safe evacuation to a health facility, police or shelter we shall be available to provide such services. A friendly driver, a police officer and one of our counsellors will be the only occupants in the vehicle to provide this assistance.

When a survivor of sexual violence  reaches out to us requesting for post-abuse emergency assistance such as; safe evacuation to a health facility, police or shelter we shall be available to provide such services. A friendly driver, a police officer and one of our counsellors will be the only occupants in the vehicle to provide this assistance.

We will also continue to cater for medical expenses; relating to the incidence of abuse, that are not already being catered for by the government. Please note that this assistance is reserved for victims of rape and defilement.

Our other support services are being provided remotely by our counselling, coaching, peer-support, resource advocacy programs to survivors of abuse.

Our education and prevention teams are identifying innovative means by which to work with students, parents and community groups to teach healthy relationships, consent, and respectful workplaces.

To access the programs mentioned above, or if you think that you or someone you know may be a survivor of sexual violence/abuse, please contact Totya Platform by phone at 0800 220630(call for free), by sms at +256 759 296 003 (for Airtel) and +256 785 673788 (for MTN), by chat at +256 759 296 003 (WhatsApp) or Totya Platform on Facebook messenger or @TotyaPlatform on Twitter and Instagram DM or on our website at TOTYAchat

For now, we are extremely limiting volunteers, interns and postponing all in-person events. If you have questions about any of these please contact Totya Platform’s administration staff at info@totya.org.

Out of an abundance of caution, these closures and modified operations will remain in effect until further notice and other programs may be limited or cancelled to help keep clients, staff, volunteers and supporters safe in response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

We encourage you to check back to this page for regular updates.

Again, if you need our assistance or believe you are a survivor of sexual violence or abuse, please contact Totya Platform by phone at 0800 220630(call for free), by sms at +256 759 296 003 (for Airtel) and +256 785 673788 (for MTN), by chat at +256 759 296 003 (WhatsApp) or Totya Platform on Facebook messenger or @TotyaPlatform on Twitter and Instagram DM or on our website at TOTYAchat.

If you would like to support Totya Platform’s work during this time, you can click HERE to contact us about how to go about it

Totya Platform needs your support to:

• Keep the hotline active (airtime/call-time, monthly maintenance fees)
• Pay medical fees for survivors
• Emergency evacuation of victims
• Raising community awareness