life
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Inside issue 9
Protecting children changes lives LIFE FOR CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM Changing perspectives in Hong Kong
page 6
Empowering ‘Champions’ page 10 in the Middle East Creating safety nets for children in Uganda
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page 12
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EDITORIAL
At Viva’s heart, we believe in the power of collaboration for sustainable impact for vulnerable children. We have witnessed this when everyone plays a part in ensuring that children feel safe and act quickly when confronting issues of child abuse. In this issue of Life magazine, learn about what happens when Red Viva Nicaragua collaborates with the National University of Engineering to create an app that allows for direct reporting of abuse or anonymous requests which would be sent directly to the Red Viva team. (page 4) Read also about how our proactive child protection making a difference both here in Hong Kong (page 6) and in the Middle East (page 10). In countries such as Lebanon, many children are continuing to experience the consequences of a war-torn society. And lastly, join us as we look back on the difference that has been made for children through our partner network’s child protection projects in Uganda on page 12. As we begin a new fiscal year here at Viva, we thank you for the work that we were able to achieve through your support this past year.
Thank you for supporting vulnerable children across the world.
Rachael Ma Office and Fundraising Manager
We are an international Christian charity passionate about releasing children from poverty and abuse. We grow locally-led networks who are committed to working together so that children are safe, well and able to fulfil their God-given potential.
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Last year, Viva reached 2.2 million children by partnering with 38 networks and working in 26 countries. Find out more at viva.org
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PROTECTING CHILDREN CHANGES LIVES
Devesh Lal, Viva Network Consultant, talks with students at a school in Ranchi
TIME TO TALK
Viva is actively promoting child protection training in schools in six cities across India. Teachers, counsellors and administrative staff learn how to recognise and respond to child abuse, and attain recognised standards. Children are taught how to protect themselves by taking part in ‘Good Touch, Bad Touch’ workshops. Santa Sylvia (pictured below), Network Co-ordinator of Viva’s partner network in Bangalore – where 27 schools are being trained – told us about the deep-rooted issues being addressed. I think the need for child protection is really high in our city. People here
tell their children ‘don’t talk to strangers’ but often fail to realise that most abuse happens by people who know the child. We forget to teach our children how to be safe at home. With the schoolchildren we train, it’s helpful when we say ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ because it’s simpler and children understand it better than saying ‘appropriate’ and ‘inappropriate’. Towards the end of the training, many children said, “this is exactly what’s happening to me”.
Children experience neglect and abuse at schools – but staff don’t realise this because for them it is a part of discipline. Through our child
protection training, we advise teachers that, if a child is not doing homework, instead of shouting at them and humiliating them in front of the class, talk to the child one-on-one and find out the reason. Is it because the father is a drunk and beating up the mother? Or is there no electricity at home? Give the child a
chance and you’ll get the real story. Build a relationship that enables the child to freely express themselves. In some schools we’ve gone to, the teachers would be in denial at the beginning, saying ‘this doesn’t happen at my school!’ Because for them, abuse is only sexual abuse. Often
during training, teachers realise their actions may have been the cause of emotional abuse or neglect. Some confess
this and once they realise it they can start working on it. And that is what we want to see: a safe school, where children grow to their Godintended potential.
At some point during their childhood, 53% of Indians are sexually abused. (Source: Ministry of
Women and Child Development study, 2007)
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CALLS OUT ABUSE
© Joe Hafner
APP
Six out of ten children in Nicaragua have experienced domestic violence at home
A brand new mobile app has been launched by our partner network Red Viva Nicaragua allowing users to report instances of abuse or bullying to local authorities anonymously, writes Jaime Tercero. Six out of ten children in Nicaragua have experienced domestic violence at home and 75 per cent reported witnessing violence at school among students. This statistic was discovered in a poll
of 300 children conducted by Red Viva Nicaragua in 2016.
Con Vos’ – translated to English as ‘I’m With You’.
A recent government report also highlighted that 50 per cent of all reported sexual
The app gives you two options: report a case of sexual abuse, or bullying. It then gives you simple and straightforward advice about how to report it or, if the user prefers to stay completely anonymous, there is the option to send your request straight through to the team at Red Viva.
assault claims made were committed against children – more specifically, girls under 13 years old. UNESCO has published data which places Nicaragua as the country with the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Latin America.
Over the past few years, we at Red Viva Nicaragua have been working hard to organise and promote training in reporting abuse within the local community, so that those affected by violence would know how best to ensure their abusers are dealt with severely. 4
encourage anonymous reporting, we teamed up with the National University of Engineering (Nicaragua) to create an app which enables survivors to report abuse directly from their phone! The app has been named ‘Estoy
However, the people the training aimed to help very rarely attended. Therefore, in a bid to
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The account doesn’t have to come straight from the survivor of an attack either; a concerned friend or family member can just as easily log a complaint on their behalf. If an incident
report is received at the network, the information will be assessed, and the appropriate police staff are informed in order to begin an investigation. If the case needs extra intervention from other
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PROTECTING CHILDREN CHANGES LIVES organisations, network members can team up with other local groups who are able to provide support such as psychological follow-up. At the moment, eight cases have been reported, and most of them resolved at local level through these partnerships. The press conference we held for the app’s launch was televised on two international television channels, which itself has created a new challenge. Two of the incident reports so far have come from outside of the local area the team is able to respond to. Our team has therefore been prompted to search for partner organisations beyond their current reach.
the uniqueness of the reporting faculty of this app, which similar apps in the past have failed to achieve.
Momentum is definitely building with this ground-breaking initiative and, if the
current trajectory of success continues, we hope it will be taken up by national organisations in the near future. Watch this space! Jaime Tercero is Red Viva Nicaragua’s network co-ordinator
This is what Viva is all about: the beauty of working together through a network of organisations, each able to compliment one another’s methods of reaching children most in need within their area. Working this way provides the opportunity to achieve far more for children than would be possible through one single organisation. We’re currently promoting the initiative across the local areas through festivals, parades and training, as well as through visuals such as t-shirts and banners. A handful of young people from these communities were asked to be interviewed on the morning news to talk about the app and the situation of violence in their communities. For the future, we’re planning to introduce the app to the National Council of Organisations Working for Children so that it can be promoted at a national level by other NGOs. At the moment a global non-profit is interested in partnering with us after recognising
Your ongoing, monthly gift can help us support networks like the one in Nicaragua to more effectively protect children. Use the form on page 13 or go to viva.org/give
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CHANGING
PERSPECTIVES
Kanice Ho trained 500 people from ten organisations in 2017
Hong Kong is an international city with well-developed law and education systems. However, behind the prosperity, children are not as happy as the city’s success portrays. Children are placed under tremendous pressure to succeed and have little control over their lives. As a result, many parents who genuinely believe the choices they make are the best for their children are in fact neglecting them. Some adults misuse positions of power and subject children to abuse.
With an office in the city, Viva has been pioneering the concept of holistic protection for children in Hong Kong since 2013. Kanice Ho began her role as Viva’s Child Protection Advisor in January 2017 and has now trained more
comfortable to discuss it, advocate it and tackle it. During the training, I want
people to understand that it is not just the responsibility of professionals like social workers or teachers. It’s the responsibility of everyone.”
It’s encouraging to see the partnerships formed through this training. One
participant is Andrea Wong, Operations and Kids Pastor at Sky City Church, and she says Viva’s training has made a real difference to all aspects of life there. “Viva has instilled in
us a heart to pursue excellence in child protection and care. They have encouraged
than 500 people from ten different organisations – schools, churches and
us to be proactive and to start somewhere.”
Kanice says, “To improve child protection in Hong Kong, it’s really important that we confess child abuse cases are happening. When we
After the training, Sky City has implemented a more robust registration system for their Sunday school, improving diligence and accountability. As Andrea says: “We’d love for it to create a dynamic, attractive and engaging environment for children.
sports clubs – with an estimated reach of 10,000 children.
have better knowledge and awareness of child protection, we are more
Ensuring their lives are safe right now has implications for their futures.”
“It is paramount that our staff understand how to safely work with children and how to protect them from any dangers that may arise.” Paul Smith, Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 6
Watch a short video about this work at bit.ly/HKCPtraining18
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PROTECTING CHILDREN XXXXX CHANGES XXXXXX LIVES
SAFEGUARDING TIPS FOR PARENTS
“What can go wrong here, and how can we make it safer?”
I feel passionately about parents having confidence in the choices they make around keeping their children safe, and parents and young people being able to make informed choices they make to keep their children safe. I’m sharing here tips I’ve trialled both as a parent and a youth worker. I’ve also gathered advice from teachers, a health nurse and a chaplain at secondary schools – and young people themselves. The NSPCC’s PANTS Rule (from toddlers onwards) This is accessible and easy to implement, with great resources available. I’ve been using it with my children since they were about two. It’s a simple, foundational way to open conversations about consent, body autonomy and ‘safe’ adults you can talk to. Details at http://bit.ly/PANTSrule Quickfire safety tips from young people I love this list because it’s practical and entirely the words of 13-14 year-olds. • Stay in big groups with people you know – this reduces the risk of kidnapping or unwanted attention.
© Myles Tan
• • • •
Don’t walk down creepy drug alleyways. Keep your phone on. Go straight where you’re going. Don’t make yourself vulnerable.
Risk assessing for kids (aged 3+) One of my favourite questions is “what can go wrong here, and how can we make it safer?” Teenagers and my three-year-old son alike have all enjoyed the challenge and the responsibility of assessing risk and implementing precautions. Using conversation to find ways of reducing risk and growing independent thought builds resilience by making it possible to take considered risks, and allows you to see your child’s thought processes. These questions are the basis of a risk assessment, and can be applied to everything from walking on a wall when you’re three to catching the bus at 13. Maintain open communications (all ages) I believe the single most important safeguarding tip for parents is to keep communications open. A basic principle of youth work is ‘informal education’, which involves listening to what young people are talking about and seeking ways to connect and encourage growth through that conversation. There is an art to really listening to what children and young people are saying, even simple things can be significant. By Hannah Woods, Viva’s Doorsteps Lead Youth Worker, based in Oxford, UK 7
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GOOD TREATMENT CAMP THE PROCESS
Campaign planned, adults trained, children selected and trained to be advocates
Children go to the streets, supported by leaders, to ask adults to commit to treating children well
Adults sign promise cards and pledge to make a lasting change to the children
THE GLOBAL NUMBERS
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Viva partner networks took part and reported back
501
churches and organisations were involved
5,281 children led the campaign
5 ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN:
5 COMMENTS ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN:
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“ Alcohol seems more valuable to fathers than the well-being of their families.”
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“ I am really supportive and agree that everyone must listen to, love and care for children – they are our next generation.”
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“ Levels of abuse and school drop-out rates are high.”
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“ The cards are effective because adults keep them in their pockets.”
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“ Corporal punishments and locking children inside the house are the only ways to deal with bad behaviour.”
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“ All the children were very excited and had a sense of achievement. Many children had not been aware of their rights so they said that they now felt empowered.”
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“ Belittling comments make children feel worthless.”
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“ This campaign was appropriate and relevant at this time for our society.”
“ The community and police need to work together to address child protection issues.”
“ I was personally blessed by the campaign along with my children. My church and whole area took part.”
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PROTECTING CHILDREN CHANGES LIVES
MPAIGN 2017 The campaign is repeated year-on-year
CITY AUTHORITIES RECOGNISE AND SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
1,924
adults supported the children in outreach
24,320 15,046 adults engaged in conversations
promise cards signed
THE CAMPAIGN FOCUS:
5 WAYS TO TREAT CHILDREN WELL Tell them that you love them every day Listen to what they have to say and spend time with them Accept them as they are and recognise their qualities Support their learning and train them to accept good values Teach them responsibility and help them to resolve conflicts
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© MERATH
CHAMPIONS!
The impact of equipping childcare leaders with the skills and resources to train others is hugely valuable. Kezia M’Clelland writes about how this approach is working effectively in the Middle East, in spite of ongoing instability.
Training is equipping local partners in the Middle East to protect children
The risks for children living in the Middle East were starkly spelt out in February when the UN issued a blank statement that they are “running
out of words” to express the horrific realities of the situation for children
following seven years of conflict in Syria. Almost nine million Syrian children are in immediate need of aid; a third are refugees. However, as well as extreme risks to their safety, children also face risks of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect, which are exacerbated by the context of conflict and instability. Whilst national child protection systems are developing there are still many gaps
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in the system and its capacity, resulting in many children failing to receive the
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support they need, or to be protected from harm. Viva’s heart is to see all children kept safe and having the opportunity to thrive – but in complex contexts such as those in this region, it’s not always possible for Viva to use its network model. At the same time, we know there are many individuals in these places who work wholeheartedly to keep children safe.
Over the last year, I’ve trained 70 people to be Child Protection Champions in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Egypt, through partnership with MERATH and with Embrace the Middle East.
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PROTECTING CHILDREN CHANGES LIVES The three-day ‘training of trainers’ workshops have helped these organisations’ local partners to learn about equipping others to understand, recognise and respond to abuse, including sessions on both child protection issues and developing skills for training and facilitating adult learning. Individuals have really appreciated the opportunity to meet with others and recognise that they are not alone. Together, these 70 ‘Champions’
are connected to organisations reaching thousands of children – meaning the potential impact is huge, especially as they have the skills and resources to train others.
One attendee told me, “The training was extremely useful and beneficial for me. For example, I am more determined not to compromise the safety and integrity of children for the sake of my friends or co-workers. I am now more determined to take measures, as appropriate, with potential incidents of child abuse.”
“After training, I am more determined not to compromise the safety and integrity of children.” Following on from the training it’s been great to see the ‘Champions’ quickly take initiative and use the materials to train their own organisations.
In one centre for children with disabilities in Alexandria, Egypt, the champions trained 61 teachers in child protection within two weeks of the training, and also worked together to create a child protection policy and procedure for the centre. Another of the partners who attended the training in Egypt last December has already used the training to train six nurseries where her team works, including sessions for parents, teachers and children.
In our ongoing partnership in Lebanon and Syria, it’s been encouraging to see the ‘Champions’ influencing the projects of which they are part.
In Lebanon, one of the teachers working at an informal education project quickly used the training to train the rest of his team. He also expressed how it is helping him
and the team practically deal with issues facing the children in the centre.
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‘Champions’ have quickly taken initiative and trained people in their own organisations
He told me, “One student was very aggressive in the classroom and was disturbing all of the other students. But I was able to put the training into practice in this situation, and to realise that the boy was behaving in this way because of his home situation, and the way he is treated by his father. So, instead of punishing the boy,
we worked with him – giving him more responsibilities in the classroom and giving him extra support, rather than shouting at him. Now he is really responsible and helpful, and happy in the classroom.”
Our Child Protection Champions’ programme forms part of Viva’s wider child protection work, and is something we’re beginning to also use more widely with our partner networks in places such as Uganda and India. It’s an approach that builds on 22 years of experience in working alongside local communities to develop relevant and contextual high quality responses to the risks children face.
And it’s a privilege for me to inspire and equip people to ensure children remain safe from harm for many years to come. Kezia M’Clelland is Viva’s Children in Emergencies Specialist
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© CRANE
SAFETY
NETS AND
SKILLS
TRAINING
Victoria Price looks back on a year full of child protection projects by our partner network CRANE in Uganda, highlighting three exciting ways in which children’s lives have been transformed. Many children in the city of Kampala do not receive the level of protection they should have.
Due to widespread poverty and inequality, children are engaged in the worst forms of child labour – putting themselves at risk on the streets or in hazardous work environments. Pervasive attitudes that
ward against reporting perpetrators also play a very strong role in maintaining a culture of violence against children. Deep-rooted issues
within the city such as poor law enforcement, lack of training of professionals to handle cases of abuse and barriers to accessing services also contribute to the fragile web of abuse within the city, which can often be within family homes. It is into this situation that our partner network CRANE operates in Uganda. The network brings together childcare workers, duty bearers and other stakeholders from
150 churches and organisations to collaborate in transforming the lives of over 70,000 children at risk. 12
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1.
Trained and mentored adults are able to have an influence on the culture of the city.
Church leaders are encouraged to regularly remind their congregations that families should always have children’s best interests at heart. Messages such as discouraging the separation of parents or sending children to work have established safety nets for children, despite the circumstances poverty creates. 152 church leaders have been trained through six workshops, organised on a quarterly basis, to help them to promote a child-focused message and nurture families into being safe places for children. One church pastor testifies of the impact the training has had: “Through the pastors’ training, I have been helped to understand children and to relate to them and have also been equipped to build strong families – at my home, in the church and in my community.” Professionals such as local council members, family coaches and police officers have also participated in training workshops on family therapy, child protection, positive parenting and conflict resolution.
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s
© CRANE
PROTECTING CHILDREN CHANGES LIVES
CRANE supports those working to make vulnerable children safer
2.
Equipped and empowered Child Protection Committees change communities.
Family and child protection issues are dealt with by committees who regularly discuss current cases and brief children and parents about the specific risks of abuse in their area, and strategies to ensure child safety and wellbeing.There are at least 80 committees overseen by CRANE, with each group carrying out needs assessments and running particular projects to deal with identified problems. With CRANE’s support, the committees carry out community mapping exercises in order to identify child-focused services, black spots and safe spaces.Together, they make suggestions about how to improve the situation for children. Ten year-old Sarah’s story is a perfect example of the community identifying a need and working together to overcome it. Sarah’s mother died of AIDS and her father is living with HIV, unable to provide a regular income. When the church discovered the problem, they found Sarah a foster mother from their church. Then, together with the Child Protection Committee, they lobbied for school fees support. They were successful, and Sarah was taken to school, where she sat her primary examinations last year and achieved a high grade.
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3.
Village Saving and Loans Associations: the unsung heroes of promoting child protection!
Although perhaps not the most obvious way to ensure children are safe, 37 Village Savings and Loans Associations give members the opportunities to improve skills and knowledge on topics such as becoming better parents and spouses, protecting their children, and boosting their income in the various small businesses they run. There is an increased social network within the communities by joining the associations and, over the last year, 695 members have been regularly saving, borrowing and paying back their loans. The Odoki family had two children who had to drop out of school to help increase the family’s income. The eldest daughter wanted to commit suicide because she missed her friends at school so much. But, after the Child Protection Committee visited their home, they encouraged her mother to join the Village Saving and Loans Association. She joined and borrowed money that she used to start a second-hand clothes business. She was able to pay back the loan in time and now both children are thriving back in school. Victoria Price is Viva’s Fundraising Officer
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© CRANE
ES
I would like to give a one-off donation (Please enclose a cheque payable to ‘Viva’) HK$ My details Name Address
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per month
Viva Network (Hong Kong) Ltd Bank no 004
Branch no 848
Account no 139408838
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Bank number Branch number Account number I/We hereby authorize my/our above named Bank to effect transfers from my/ our account to that of the above named beneficiary in accordance with such instructions as my/our Bank may receive from the beneficiary and/or its banker and/ or its banker’s correspondent from time to time provided always that the amount of any one such transfer shall not exceed the limit indicated above.
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Please return this form to Viva, Room TA07, 6/F, Woon Lee Commercial Building, 7-9 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui
Telephone: +852 3919 5867
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www.viva.org
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WILL YOU HELP US
PROTECT 2
CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD?
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OPINION: MARYAM EHSANI
ROBUST
MEASURES ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE
All children have a right to protection from abuse and violence. Yet children are abused in every country in the world and shockingly a child dies every five minutes as a result of violence.
An overall approach to safeguarding children is rooted in understanding the risks to children from the whole organisation. This is a robust and comprehensive process that begins with development, or strengthening, of a child safeguarding policy that describes how the organisation is committed to promoting the rights, dignity and well-being of children, and preventing all forms of exploitation and abuse.
The world’s most vulnerable children are the most at risk, such as those fleeing conflict or natural disasters, those from ethnic minorities and those living in poverty. Children with disabilities are between three and four times more likely to be subjected to violence and neglect.
time, ensuring staff are trained and coordinated, and that there is good communication on safeguarding children.
Most violence against children is perpetrated by people they know and should be able to trust. Too often, the
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abuser works within an organisation with the explicit aim of helping children – including relief and development agencies, peacekeeping forces, and education and sports organisations.
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It then requires organisational development in the form of allocating staff
There also needs to be sound processes for planning, implementation, monitoring and review, to ensure clear and transparent lines of accountability right up to board level. Any concerns the organisation has about children’s safety should be reported to the appropriate authorities, so that perpetrators can be brought to justice and children be given follow-up support.
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PROTECTING CHILDREN CHANGES LIVES Keeping Children Safe (KCS) was established in 2001. Its mission is to work with its 77 members, including Viva, to safeguard all children from exploitation, abuse and violations of their human rights. We advocate
for the universal adoption and monitoring of international standards on safeguarding, build the capacity of organisations to do this and work to advance a global movement of organisations committed to ensure that their staff, operations and programmes do no harm to children.
Wherever it works in the world, every organisation needs to address the following questions: • Where, when and how does the organisation affect children and what risks does this present? • What policies and procedures are needed to prevent harm and how can concerns be responded to appropriately? • Who is the appropriate designated person/s to act as the focal point in an organisation to receive and manage any safeguarding concerns and subsequent inquiry/investigation? • What safeguarding induction and training is needed to ensure staff know what the organisation expects of them and what should be done if they have a concern? • Is there a clear code of conduct so that all staff understand their professional boundaries when working with children, and what is and is not acceptable behaviour? • How do you recruit safely? To achieve this, KCS has developed a set of four International Child Safeguarding Standards to emphasise the key aspects of managing child safeguarding within an organisation. They are:
1 Policy The organisation sets clear policy that describes how it is committed to promoting the well-being of children, preventing abuse and creating a positive environment for children wherein their rights are upheld and they are treated with dignity and respect.
2 People The organisation communicates clearly its commitments to keeping children safe and the responsibilities and expectations it places on staff and associates in particular, its partners – through relevant policies, procedures and guidance, and that staff and associates (and other relevant people, including children) are supported in understanding and acting in line with these.
3 Procedures The organisation implements a systematic process of planning and implementation of child safeguarding measures.
4 Accountability KCS is delighted that Viva has been an active member of our network for more than ten years and, in addition to participating in KCS activities, contributes to various initiatives and has led webinars for the network. I’m currently setting up an international working group around child safeguarding in faith-based settings, which will help charities such as Viva share their good practices and discuss their challenges.
Together, we are committed to doing everything in our power to keep children safe and to influence others to do the same. Maryam Ehsani is Child Safeguarding Network Manager at Keeping Children Safe. She supports NGOs, governments and other organisations to implement and strengthen the UN’s International Child Safeguarding Standards; develops an international child safeguarding community of practice; provides ongoing technical advice and coaching to members; and undertakes certification and auditing for all full members. Maryam has an MA in International Children’s Rights. Find out more about KCS at keepingchildrensafe.org.uk or email Maryam at maryam.ehsani@keepingchildrensafe.org.uk 15
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Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100: 1-2, 5 (NIV)
Even in the midst of their hurt, poverty and tragedy, we believe God is always present for the world’s vulnerable children, with his enduring, immeasurable love and compassion. Remember what he has done in the past. See how he is at work now, even in the tough places. Trust that he will shape the lives of generations to come. Please join us wherever you are on 2-3 June 2018 for our World Weekend of Prayer. Come with an attitude of praise, not forgetting God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Resources at www.worldweekendofprayer.com Viva, Room TA07, 6/F, Woon Lee Commercial Building, 7-9 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong t: +852 3919 5867
FACEBOOK.COM/VIVATOGETHERHK Mixed Sources Product group from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre. www.fsc.org Cert No. SA-COC-09174 Front cover (inset): MERATH
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HK@VIVA.ORG
VIVA.ORG
Viva is an operating name of Viva Network (Hong Kong) Limited. Viva Network (Hong Kong) Limited is a company limited by guarantee and registered charity with company no.1657942, and registered in Hong Kong SAR at 22/F Siu On Building, 243-245 Des Vouex Road West, Hong Kong Any children referred to have had their names and photos changed in accordance with our Child Protection Policy.
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