Salvation Army Liberia Command Ends Two Day Intensive Training On Int’l Children Protection Policy

-As Head Of Mission Lt. Col. Samuel Mkami Challenged Participants To Be Ambassadors

Every Salvation Army territory, command and region is expected to implement a Child Protection Policy, with a process of reviewing it regularly.

According to the International facilitator Madam Dagobert Mureriwa Judith Eze, some territories have developed and implemented their own child protection policies.

She said the framework is designed to bring consistency to The Salvation Army practice globally, and will be used to measure current territorial policies against, ensuring that The Salvation Army works to the same standards in protecting children.

Madam Eze added that the  International Child Protection Policy Framework is  aimed to set out the expectations of what should be included in child protection policies for each territory/zone within The Salvation Army, and includes draft practice guidance available for implementation by territories, should that be required.

She also stressed that the laws and government policies within each territory/country will vary, and the information can be added to the local policy.

Madam Judith However, noted that the approach of the International Policy Framework is to apply a high level of practice and behavior with the children/young people, as the International Policy Framework will be higher, or as high, as the threshold of government policies and local laws.

The zonal child protection specialist disclosed that she was very happy that she was working with the Liberia command and Sierra Leone Command because according her the selection that was made by the leaders of the command as it relates to the participants.

Speaking in an interview in Monrovia October 10, 2019 at the end of the training at the Headquarters of The Salvation Army on 17^th street, she said all the participants were very knowledgeable on the topic which according to her she never found it difficult in presenting the International Child protection policy to them.

She said the training was also intended to establish a solid structure on reporting and proper documentation process within the command and also cautioned participants to go and train others in the area of child protection in very part of Liberia.

Speaking earlier, the Officer commanding or Head of Mission of the Salvation Lt. Col. Samuel Mkanmi challenged the participants to go and serve as child protectors in their various communities where they were drawn from to attend the workshop.

The Head of Mission of the Salvation Army told the participants that every child needs protection from everyone despite of their location and position in society adding  “You are who you are today because of the care that people;  your parents gave you therefore you should be able to protect a child in your communities.

“How much do you feel responsible when the children are entrusted to you”?Adding that the training was and an eye opener which will assist the Salvation Army in Liberia command to spread the message to other communities from the Army to all parts of the country and even beyond.

The participants to the workshop were drawn from all the Salvation Army Schools system in Liberia, from the Salvation Army churches in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

At the end of the workshop the National coordinator for Liberia Mr. David S Massaquoi Sr. and also the Director of the Salvation Army School System lauded the participants for attending the training and cautioned them to go and spread message to their various schools and churches. Contributed by Samuel B. Diggs, Freelance Reporter