My telephone friend: a telephone support project for lonely people has started in Ukraine

In response to the effects of COVID-19 in Ukraine, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Ukrainian Volunteer Service (UVS) have launched the project My Telephone Friend to support people who are alone. The project volunteers will call those who need it, such as single seniors, people with disabilities or parents with many children, to share useful information or just to ask how they are doing. 
The COVID-19 pandemic not only highlighted the problem of loneliness, but also exacerbated it. Going outside and meeting friends is still risky for many people, because despite the relaxation of quarantine measures, COVID-19 has not gone anywhere and still poses a threat. My Telephone Friend gives young people another opportunity to join in the fight against the effects of the pandemic. Each and every one of them can become a companion that people sometimes sorely miss and a source of verified information about COVID-19 and ways to protect against infection. 
The Ukrainian project is based on successful international experience. A similar initiative in the United Kingdom brought together 250 thousand volunteers supporting people aged 60+ who feel lonely during quarantine. To become a telephone volunteer in Ukraine, you need to register on the My Telephone Friend platform and read information and advice from project experts.   
If you or someone close to you may find it useful to have regular telephone conversations with a young person who will share useful information or just keep you company, call the hotline at 0 800 202 147 (Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 20:00). 
The Ministry of Youth and Sports, social services, the U-Report youth movement and many other organizations have already become partners of the My Telephone Friend project. 
The My Telephone Friend project was implemented as part of the UNICEF National Solidarity Campaign and with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).