Tez ChildFund Africa

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Tez ChildFund Africa

1. Policy Statement

Tez ChildFund Africa is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

We believe every child has the right to:

• Safety and protection from harm
• Dignity and respect
• Protection from exploitation and abuse
• A voice that is heard and valued

We maintain zero tolerance for child abuse, exploitation, neglect, harassment, or any behavior that harms a child.

This policy applies to:

• Board members
• Staff
• Volunteers
• Consultants
• Contractors
• Partners
• Ambassadors
• Sponsors interacting with children

2. Definition of a Child

A child is any person under the age of 18 years.

3. Forms of Abuse

Abuse may include:

Physical Abuse

Intentional use of physical force causing harm.

Emotional or Psychological Abuse

Humiliation, intimidation, threats, rejection, or emotional neglect.

Sexual Abuse or Exploitation

Any sexual activity involving a child, including grooming, exploitation, trafficking, or inappropriate communication.

Neglect

Failure to provide basic needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, supervision, or protection.

4. Code of Conduct

All adults working with Tez ChildFund Africa must:

✔ Treat children with respect and dignity
✔ Use appropriate language and behavior at all times
✔ Maintain professional boundaries
✔ Obtain consent before photographing or recording a child
✔ Ensure activities are supervised
✔ Report any concerns immediately

All adults must NOT:

✖ Hit, physically punish, or verbally abuse a child
✖ Engage in inappropriate physical contact
✖ Be alone with a child in isolated environments
✖ Exchange money or gifts for favors
✖ Communicate privately with children via personal social media
✖ Share child images without authorization

5. Safe Recruitment

To protect children, we implement:

• Background checks (where legally available)
• Reference verification
• Signed Code of Conduct
• Safeguarding training during induction

No person will be permitted to work directly with children without clearance.

6. Reporting Procedures

Any suspicion, disclosure, or incident must be reported immediately to the designated Child Protection Officer.

Reporting Steps:

1. Ensure the child is safe.
2. Record factual information.
3. Report to Child Protection Officer within 24 hours.
4. Escalate to authorities if required by law.

Confidentiality will be maintained.

Failure to report concerns may result in disciplinary action.

7. Responding to Incidents

Tez ChildFund Africa will:

• Prioritize the child’s safety
• Conduct internal review
• Cooperate with authorities
• Provide appropriate support to the child
• Take disciplinary action where necessary

8. Media & Image Protection

• Written consent must be obtained from guardians.
• No full names will be published without consent.
• Images will preserve dignity and avoid exploitation.
• Stories may use changed names for protection.

9. Training & Awareness

All staff and volunteers receive annual safeguarding training.

Children are informed of:

• Their rights
• How to report concerns
• Who they can speak to

10. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as needed.