Help & Shelter yesterday launched its new Child Protection Project, which is intended to promote the rights of children.
The project, through the provision of support systems and public education, will specifically promote the safety of children in four communities: Hague and Zeelugt in Region Three; and Sophia and Good Hope in Region Four. It is designed to help improve the lives of children who have experienced abuse and violence through prevention education and community-based actions.
Parents and service providers in the education, health, judicial, religious and social service sectors in the communities will be involved in this action. Help & Shelter is hopeful that the knowledge these persons gain will be shared so as to encourage similar types of community-based actions across Guyana.
The project is funded by the European Union with co-funding provided by donations through the support of the Concerned Citizens against Domestic Abuse, based in Atlanta.
At the launch, in the Conference Room of the National Library, Georgetown, Project Officer Vidyaratha Kissoon said that Help & Shelter has to raise 10% of the funding cash. He noted also that to date $90,000 was funded by the Concerned Citizens Against Domestic Abuse Corp and they’re also trying to raise another US$50,000.
Project Coordinator Collin Marks, meanwhile, said that child protection is necessary. He stated that even before the official launch of the project, there was a counselling exercise carried out in Zeelugt with seven children.
Representatives from each of the four communities were present at the launch yesterday and they were each invited to share their expectations of the project for their community. Each of the representatives highlighted the problems their community is facing in relation to children. These problems include the large number of young single-parents without the necessary skills required to raise a child/children; child labour; child abuse; youths loitering in the streets, smoking and gambling; and, according to the representative from Sophia, Luis Jordan, “small children being sold alcohol and cigarettes.”
The representatives hope to visit the communities and educate the single parents on alternative methods of parenting; counsel the men to play a more active part in their children’s lives as well as to be better role models in their communities; and generally “making the communities a better place for children, so that they can reflect on their childhood with happy memories.”
Speaking about how they intended to ensure the success of this new project, Kissoon said that through constant interaction with and the educating of teachers, nurses, and other community members, they will be able to keep tabs on the progress made. This will enable Help and Shelter representatives to make improvements where necessary, so that success will be assured.
Meanwhile, Help & Shelter also launched its Child Protection Policy yesterday. It is designed to help every child (any person under 18 years) to grow and develop to their full potential in safe environments, free from poverty and exploitation.
These environments include the homes, communities, schools and other institutions to which these children are connected.
Help & Shelter aims to safeguard children from abuse and exploitation, in line with Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which states that: “States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver(s)/legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.”
The child protection policy aims to shed light on the roles, responsibilities, procedures, reporting and referral requirements. This policy also intends to promote awareness of child protection issues and outline the procedures for Help & Shelter representatives as they comply with the requirements of the Protection of Children Act (2009). The policy is available at: http://www.hands.org.gy/childprotectionpolicy
