Due to Oxfam’s failure to safeguard children in Haiti although a sad and distressing time has highlighted the importance of child safeguarding policies, as well as how critical it is for any organisation working within the aid sector to constantly review and update them.
At PaP, we always take the utmost care to make sure that our own policies and those of our partner projects are as safe as they can be. With this in mind, we would like to take this opportunity to share with you the latest updates to the child protection policies that are being implemented in our Haiti project, Notre Maison/St Joseph’s Orphanage.
- No children are to be upstairs, in guest rooms, or alone with a volunteer at any time.
- Children may not leave the orphanage without a staff member.
- Visitors may not visit the children’s dormitories without staff being present.
- Special children’s activities planned by volunteers must be cleared with the administration in advance.
- Visitors may not help with diapering or toileting.
- Interns or visitors staying at Notre Maison longer than 1 week must have a certificate of a background check from their home government.
- No photos allowed without staff permission.
The safety of any children receiving aid from PaP within our project partner projects is always our first concern. We believe that these changes, combined with our existing safeguarding policies, are a necessary and positive thing. The updated policy will allow our partner projects to keep on caring for the children they work with and provide them with a brighter future, while at the same time ensuring a safe and nurturing environment.
