Scouts association’s Child Protection Policy to be launched in November |01 August 2022

• Second validation session completed

The Seychelles Scouts Association Child Protection Policy is expected to be launched in November this year.

This follows the completion last Saturday of the second validation session for the policy.

All children and adults – be they formal and informal helpers, parents, volunteers, leaders, commissioners and friends of the SSA who have any contact, in any form, with children, young persons and adults at risk – are covered by this policy.

The policy titled ‘Safe from Harm’ is a set of actions designed to make sure that every person involved in scouting is responsible and committed to protect children and young people inside or outside the movement, so everyone can feel safe at any time.

For over 100 years, scouting’s successful existence has been based on the fact that it has taken the responsibility to provide a safe environment for children and young people, to support their development. The relationship between youth members and adult leaders proposed by Baden-Powell and the focus on leader training have been key pillars that help scouting retain its attractiveness to young people and retain quality and consistency in the movement.

The Seychelles Scouts Association has been asked by its international entity to have its own policy.

Two validation sessions led by local consultant Benjamin Vel were held in the last three weeks and now the Seychelles Scouts Association will be working closely with the different partners such as the National Council for Children, social services, police department and other service providers to finalise the draft policy.

“Now we will be liaising with different ministries to sign some memoranda of understanding, implement the recommendations and train leaders, scouts and parents. The Scouts Association is making sure to work in close collaboration with NCC as they are the ones working for the safeguard and welfare of children in the country,” explained Betty-Mai Sofa, chief commissioner, Seychelles Scout Association.

The policy is expected to be launched on November 20, coinciding with Children’s Day.

Vidya Gappy