Safeguarding while working Cross Culturally
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27 NLT)
Exhortations to care for the most vulnerable in our societies and to ensure their wellbeing runs throughout the Bible like a mantra, reflecting God’s caring and compassionate heart and his righteousness and justice.
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare and wellbeing of children and to protect them from harm and abuse. Safeguarding all children is right ‘up there’ in God’s priorities and therefore should be a priority for his people – whatever context we live and bear witness to Christ in. When living and working cross-culturally, we will experience sensitivities and challenges when it comes to safeguarding children.
In this podcast, three people[i] who are experienced in working with vulnerable children in cross-cultural contexts in the Middle East and Africa, share what they have learned in the hope that this will provoke reflection, discussion and steps towards promoting the safeguarding of children amongst all those working cross-culturally – particularly those connecting directly and indirectly with children.
The links bellow provide further signposts to helpful webpages and resources.
Useful online resources
Child Protection – Tearfund Footsteps 116
Home and Hospitality – Footsteps 116
Tough Talks – Tehila
Keeping Children Safe
Keeping Children Safe – Let’s end child abuse in organisations
The Theology of Safeguarding – Thirtyoneeight
theology-of-safeguarding.pdf (thirtyoneeight.org)
Sending and Serving Safely – Thirtyoneeight
sending-and-serving-safely-report_feb-2021.pdf (thirtyoneeight.org)
Self-audit Tool – Thirtyoneeight
Self-audit Tool | Thirtyone:eight (thirtyoneeight.org)
Viva Child Protection Self Assessment – Tearfund Learn
Viva child protection self-assessment – Tearfund Learn
[i] Identities protected for security reasons
