300 Corps Members Trained on Child Protection and Reporting Systems
Over 300 youth corps members have received comprehensive training on child protection in a programme implemented by Chetachi Afro Foundation.
The training session focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of child protection principles, with particular emphasis on identifying and responding to various forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect. Facilitators also highlighted key indicators that may signal that a child is vulnerable or at risk.
Designed to be highly interactive, the session encouraged active participation, allowing corps members to share personal experiences and deepen their understanding of child protection challenges. As part of the engagement, participants were urged to adopt proactive roles in safeguarding children within their respective communities, especially in their capacities as educators.
Further strengthening the session, Devatop Centre for Africa Development introduced participants to existing child protection reporting channels. This included scenario-based exercises aimed at helping the corps members identify common barriers to reporting abuse. These barriers were noted to include a lack of information, fear of retaliation, low trust in existing systems, and delays in response mechanisms.
To address these challenges, the Devatop Team introduced and demonstrated the TALKAM Human Rights App as a digital tool for reporting human rights and child protection concerns. Participants were guided on how to use the application and proceeded to download it, enhancing their capacity to report and respond effectively to child protection issues.
The initiative underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen child protection systems by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and digital tools needed to safeguard vulnerable children within their communities.
