Kare Afrika

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Child Protection Policy

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY Policy Statement: The document hereof referred to as “A POLICY” is a standard guideline, rules and regulations in place for the protection of the children and promotion of the rights of children under the care of Kare Afrika. All the people in contact with the children should adhere to the policy guidelines. Management of Kare Afrika pledge its commitment to take on its mandate as stipulated in the organization Constitution, UN Convention on the Rights of children, African children charter, children’s and the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. We at KARE AFRIKA Organization are committed to a practice, which protects children from harm. Staff and volunteers in this organization accept and recognize our responsibilities to develop awareness of issues which cause children and young people harm. We will endeavor to safeguard children and young people by – Adopting child protection guidelines through a code of behavior for staff and volunteers. ▪ Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers. ▪ Sharing information about concerns with agencies that need to know, and involving parents/guardians and children appropriately. ▪ Following carefully the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers ▪ Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training Kare Afrika organization is committed to the prevention of any form of sexual harassment, victimization, bullying or violence in the workplace. Kare Afrika considers these to be unacceptable forms of behaviour and will not tolerate such behaviour under any circumstances. All staff, Volunteer, Internes and children have a right to be treated with equal respect and without being subject to harassment or bullying whilst at Kare Afrika compound/ workplace. All Staff, Volunteer, Internes and children have the responsibility to respect the rights of fellow employees/Volunteer, Internes and children by not taking part in any action that may constitute harassment or bullying. If you believe that you have observed or experienced inappropriate workplace behaviour, please contact your supervisor and management immediately. We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice at regular intervals. CODE OF BEHAVIOUR Statement of Intent It is the policy of KARE AFRIKA Organization to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from all forms of abuse including physical, emotional and sexual harm. The organization is committed to creating a safe environment in which young people can feel comfortable and secure while engaged in any of KARE AFRIKA Organization’s programmes, training events or workshops. Personnel should at all time show Kare Afrika Child Protection Policy 3 respect and understanding for individual’s rights, safety and welfare, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the ethos and principles of KARE AFRIKA Organization. Guidelines for all KARE AFRIKA Organization staff, volunteers and Internees ATTITUDES Staff and volunteers should be committed to - ▪ Treating children and young people with respect and dignity. ▪ Always listening to what a child or young person is saying. ▪ Valuing each child and young person. ▪ Recognizing the unique contribution each individual can make. ▪ Encouraging and praising each child or young person. BY EXAMPLE Staff and volunteers should endeavor to - ▪ Provide an example, which we would wish others to follow. ▪ Use appropriate language with children and young people. ▪ Challenge any inappropriate language used by a young person or child or an adult working with young people. ▪ Respect a young person’s right to privacy. ▪ Under take privacy of the child ▪ Respect the child’s views ONE TO ONE CONTACT Staff and volunteers should – • Not spend excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others. • In the unlikely event of having to meet with an individual child or young person make every effort to keep this meeting as open as possible. • If privacy is needed, ensure that other staffs are informed of the meeting and its whereabouts. • Not touch the child on her private parts. • Not say any word which of any likes on the child (Nice eyes, bums or so nice looking) • Should Not admire any body part of the child. PHYSICAL CONTACT Staff and volunteers should NOT - • Engage in sexually provocative or rough physical games, including horseplay. • Do things of a personal nature for a child or a young person that they can do for themselves. If such an incident arises, for example, where a child or young person has limited mobility, KARE AFRIKA Organization staff/volunteers should seek a member of school staff or leader of the organization to deal with such an incident. • Allow, or engage in, inappropriate touching of any kind. • Not touch the child on her private parts. • Not say any word which of any likes on the child (Nice eyes, bums or so nice looking) • Should Not admire any body part of the child. Kare Afrika Child Protection Policy 4 GENERAL Staff and volunteers should - • Be aware that someone might misinterpret our actions no matter how well intentioned. • Never draw any conclusions about others without checking the facts. • Never allow ourselves to be drawn into inappropriate attention seeking situations such as outbursts or likings. • Never exaggerate or trivialize child abuse issues or make suggestive remarks or gestures about, or to a child or young person, even in fun. RELATIONSHIPS Staff and volunteers – • Who are involved in relationships with other members of staff or volunteers should decide to either to leave the organization or one of them should do so to ensure that their personal relationships do not affect their role within KARE AFRIKA Organization or the work of the organization. • There should not be any relationship with a child by a staff or volunteers • Children should not get involved in love affairs with other in the organization • Any staff found involved in relationship with child should be dealt with as the law of the land demands. PHOTOS AND VIDEOS According to the UN Convention on the rights of children, African children’s Act, Uganda Children’s Act and the Constitution of Uganda, children have their rights to protection, privacy and confidentiality. Kare Afrika organization takes note of these Acts and regulations to protect the rights of the children in our care. Therefore, Staff, volunteers, mentors, friends and promoters should NOT: • Use photos of Kare Afrika children for their personal gains • Use videos of Kare Afrika children for their personal motives • Use the Logo of Kare Afrika for selfish interest • Not use on another organization website and Facebook • Use the children in one’s video or song without the consent of the child protection officers • Conduct research or administer questionnaires to children without the consent of the child protection officers • Take pictures and videos of children without their consent and the child protection officers All the above to be conducted on to the child should have consent from the Child protection officers Guidelines ➢ Dress code: As representatives of the organization, volunteers, like staff, are responsible for presenting a good image to clients and the community. Volunteers must dress appropriately for the conditions and performance of their duties. Some programs may have specific dress code requirements that will need to be adhered to. The official dress Kare Afrika Child Protection Policy 5 code is trousers and shirts for men and also trousers /skirts and blouse/top – Monday to Thursday and T/shirts on Friday and weekends. ➢ Smoking & Drinking alcohol: Smoking & Drinking alcohol is not allowed at the organization premises and before the children. This includes products related to smoking, chewing tobacco, snuff or smokeless tobacco. Volunteers are not permitted to smoke while with the clients (children and youth). A volunteer’s supervisor should include this information during new staff, internee and volunteer’s orientation to the program and the facility. ➢ Use of vulgar or obscene language: Use of vulgar or obscene words by staff, internes, volunteers and children is strictly prohibited at Kare Afrika premises. ➢ No pornographer: Showing of pornography to children is forbidden by who ever get into contact with the children of Kare Afrika. ➢ No sectarianism/ tribalism: There should not be any promotion of sectarianism SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD PROTECTION AND GOOD PRACTICE WITH, CHILDREN, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. Good communication is essential in any organization. In KARE AFRIKA Organization every effort will be made to assure that, should individuals have concerns; they will be listened to and taken seriously. It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that information is available to, and exchanged between all those involved in this organization and its activities. Some information is confidential and should only be shared on a strictly need-to-know basis. Children and young people Children and young people have a right to information, especially any information that could make life better and safer for them. KARE AFRIKA Organization will act to ensure they have information about how, and with whom, they can share their concerns, complaints and anxieties. When sharing information, KARE AFRIKA Organization personnel will be sensitive to the level of understanding and maturity, as well as to the level of responsibility of the people with whom they are sharing. Parents/Guardians Parents / persons with parental responsibility are ultimately responsible for their children’s welfare at all times, and they should be assured that their children are involved with a credible organization. We achieve this by - ❖ Publicizing information on all our primary, post-primary, youth and parenting work. ❖ Publishing the named Designated Child Protection Person(s) and how to make a complaint on the internet site www.kareafrika.org • Publishing a full copy of the Child Protection Policy on the internet site www.kareafrika.org Kare Afrika Child Protection Policy 6 Staff & Volunteers As an organization, which offers support and guidance to children and young people, it is imperative that each member of the KARE AFRIKA Organization staff and its volunteers are aware of their responsibilities under the Child Protection legislation and has a working knowledge of KARE AFRIKA Organization’s procedures. SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT CONCERNS WITH AGENCIES WHO NEED TO KNOW AND INVOLVING PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND CHILDREN APPROPRIATELY PROCEDURE FOR REPORTING ALLEGATIONS OR SUSPICIONS OF ABUSE. In any case where an allegation is made, or someone in KARE AFRIKA Organization has concerns, a record should be made. Details must include, as far as practical: • Name of child or young person • Age • Home Address (if known) • Date of Birth (if known) • Name/s and Address of parent/s or person/s with parental responsibility • Telephone numbers (if available) • Is the person making the report expressing their own concerns, or passing on those of somebody else? If so, record details • What has prompted the concerns? • Include dates and times of any specific incidents • Has the child or young person been spoken to? • If so, what was said? • Has anybody been alleged to be the abuser? • If so, record details • Who has this been passed on to, in order that appropriate action is taken? e.g., school, designated officer, social services etc. • Has anyone else been consulted? If so, record details • Action taken REPORTING PROCEDURES (A) DESIGNATED CHILD PROTECTION PERSONS For reasons of confidentiality the only person(s) who need to know this information is the following Designated Child Protection Persons 1. Magala Grace (Mr.) Chief Executive Officer / Founder & Designated Child Protection Person Tel: + 256 752931121 / +256 775057150 1. The Designated Person(s) will inform the relevant authorities outside the organization of the incident. 2. Follow-up on the incident and cases to the last end 3. Make referrals Kare Afrika Child Protection Policy 7 4. Counsel the victim RECORD-KEEPING ▪ All records, information and confidential notes should be kept in separate files in a locked drawer or filing cabinet. ▪ Only the designated Persons will have access to these files. DISCLOSURE ▪ Never guarantee absolute confidentiality, as Child Protection will always have precedence over any other issues. ▪ Listen to the child, rather than question him or her directly. ▪ Offer him / her reassurance without making promises, and take what the child says seriously. ▪ Allow the child to speak without interruption, ▪ Accept what is said – it is not your role to investigate or question. ▪ Do not overreact. ▪ Alleviate feelings of guilt and isolation, while passing no judgment. ▪ Advise that you will try to offer support, but that you must pass the information on. Explain what you have to do and whom you have to tell. ▪ Record the discussion accurately, as soon as possible after the event, use the child’s words or explanations – do not translate into your own words, in case you have misconstrued what the child was trying to say. ▪ Contact one of the KARE AFRIKA Organization Designated Persons for advice guidance. ▪ The Designated Person may then discuss the concern / suspicion with the relevant organization, and, if appropriate, make a direct referral. ▪ If the Designated Person is not available, or it is inappropriate to approach them, the volunteer / member of staff with the concern should make direct contact with the relevant organization themselves ▪ Record any discussions or actions taken within 24 hours. FOLLOWING CAREFULLY THE PROCEDURES FOR RECRUITMENT & SELECTION OF STAFF & VOLUNTEERS KARE AFRIKA Organization operates employment and supervision procedures that ensure highest priority is given to issues relating to child protection. Each new member of staff or volunteer may be required to undergo a police check as part of our recruitment policy. PROVIDING EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT FOR STAFF & VOLUNTEERING THROUGH SUPERVISION, SUPPORT & TRAINING KARE AFRIKA Organization encourages the development of staff and volunteers through its ongoing support, supervision and training. Kare Afrika Child Protection Policy 8 INDUCTION Each new member of staff or volunteer is made familiar with KARE AFRIKA Organization’s policies and procedures including the Child Protection Policy and Code of Behavior.