What We Aspire

As a local organisation that works with children who don't have opportunities, marginalized, who have lost parental care, or who are at any risk, we see far too many cases of child abuse and neglect.

Child abuse is widespread and persistent, exacerbated by poverty and, in some cases, legitimised through harmful cultural practices such as corporal punishment. Child abuse is a taboo subject in many cultures and is underreported.

Happy Souls Foundation does not tolerate any form of child abuse, exploitation, neglect or violation of a child’s privacy and rights. We are committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment for every child we reach through our programmes.

We work in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.

Our Child Protection Policy focuses on four key action areas: awareness, prevention, reporting and responding. We place special emphasis on awareness and prevention to safeguard children and improve the quality of the care they receive. In case of a reported child safeguarding concern, it is taken seriously and addressed without delay. This means that:

• We build the capacities of co-workers, children, young people and families to recognise signs of abuse –  and how to prevent it.

• We teach the use of tools such as positive discipline.

• We work to eliminate harmful cultural practices.

• Any reported child safeguarding incident or concern is carefully assessed and, based on the results of the assessment, concrete actions are decided and put in place.