Safeguarding Policy
Catalyst for Change (C4C) is dedicated to creating a positive impact on Vietnamese children and women through educational volunteerism, cultural immersion, and empowerment. Our mission is to empower marginalized communities by building knowledge, skills, confidence, and networks, breaking barriers of inequality through human connection and inclusive access to transformative opportunities.
C4C is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in our programs, especially vulnerable groups such as children and women. This Safeguarding Policy outlines our commitment to protecting these groups from harm, abuse, and exploitation. It provides clear guidelines and procedures that all employees, volunteers, and partners must follow to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
A copy of this Safeguarding Policy is kept and regularly updated by the Safeguarding Representative at C4C's Board of Trustees, ensuring that it remains aligned with C4C's mission and legal obligations. The Safeguarding Representative, Ms. Quyen Nguyen
(board@catalystforchangevietnam.com), is available to support staff and volunteers with any safeguarding-related concerns or questions.
Principles
Catalyst for Change (C4C) is committed to:
– Zero tolerance of abuse, exploitation, or harm towards children, women, and vulnerable groups.
– Promoting a safe and supportive environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.
– Ensuring that all staff, volunteers, and partners understand their responsibilities in safeguarding the welfare of those involved in C4C's programs. – Responding promptly and effectively to any safeguarding concerns or incidents.
Definitions
Safeguarding: Protecting individuals, especially children, women, and vulnerable groups, from abuse, exploitation, and harm. This includes ensuring their safety, health, and well-being.
Abuse: Any action that causes harm to an individual. This can include physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological abuse, as well as neglect and exploitation.
Vulnerable Groups: Individuals who may be at greater risk of harm or exploitation due to their age, gender, disability, or circumstances, including children and women.
Aims
– To protect children, women, and other vulnerable groups from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
– To create a safe and supportive environment where all individuals can participate in C4C's programs without fear of harm.
– To ensure that all staff, volunteers, and partners are trained and aware of their responsibilities in safeguarding.
– To establish clear procedures for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns.
Code of Conduct
– Respect and Dignity: All individuals involved in C4C's programs must be treated with respect and dignity. Discriminatory, abusive, or exploitative behavior will not be tolerated.
– Safe Interaction: Employees and volunteers must ensure that their interactions with children, women, and vulnerable groups are safe and appropriate.
– Confidentiality: Any information regarding safeguarding concerns must be handled with the utmost confidentiality and shared only with those who need to know in order to take appropriate action.
– Mandatory Reporting: All employees and volunteers are required to report any safeguarding concerns or incidents immediately to the Safeguarding Representative.
Reporting Safeguarding Concerns
Any safeguarding concerns must be reported immediately to the Safeguarding Representative (board@catalystforchangevietnam.com), who will assess the situation and take appropriate action, including involving external authorities if necessary.
All reports are handled confidentially and sensitively.
This policy is reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Approved by Hong Tang, Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst for Change Vietnam Reviewed and Updated on August 20th, 2024