In an era where the Church is deeply committed to protecting children and vulnerable persons, St. Charles Lwanga Parish took a proactive step by hosting a three-day Safeguarding Workshop in October 2024. Facilitated by the Jesuits Eastern Africa Province Safeguarding Office, this training equipped nearly 80 of our parish leaders and volunteers with knowledge and tools to ensure our parish is a safe environment for all.
Background: The idea for the workshop emerged after some of our parish staff attended a diocesan seminar on child protection. Recognizing that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and considering our strategic plan’s goal to “strengthen child protection and safeguarding”, we reached out to the province office that specializes in this area. They generously agreed to conduct a tailored training at our parish, also inviting participants from neighboring parishes. It was scheduled for October 20-22, 2024 (Friday through Sunday) at our parish hall.
Participants: About 79 participants joined – including our clergy (the two priests and the scholastic), parish council members, SCC leaders, youth leaders, catechists, school teachers, and representatives from groups like CWA, CMA, altar servers’ guardians, etc. We also had a few representatives from two nearby parishes (since the topic is so crucial, we opened a few slots to them). It was encouraging to see a diverse group: young and old, men and women, all ready to learn and discuss what can be a sensitive topic.
Facilitators: Fr. Silas Kemboi, SJ, who heads the province safeguarding desk, led the workshop along with a lay professional (a social worker experienced in child protection). They created a very open and respectful atmosphere.
Content: The workshop covered: – Understanding Safeguarding: Definitions of who is a child or vulnerable adult, what constitutes abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, neglect), and the Church’s duty to safeguard. Many were shocked to learn the various subtle forms abuse can take and how often it goes unseen. – Signs of Abuse: How to recognize signs that a child might be abused or a vulnerable adult might be mistreated. They gave practical indicators (like behavioral changes, unexplained injuries, sudden fear of certain places or people). – Policies and Protocols: We reviewed the Malindi Diocese safeguarding policy and the Jesuit province guidelines. It included the do’s and don’ts for church personnel: e.g., never be alone with a single child in closed spaces, always have activities in observable areas, getting parental consent for events, etc. – Reporting Mechanisms: This was critical – we learned the steps to take if we suspect abuse: who to report to (parish priest, safeguarding officer, even civil authorities if needed), how to document concerns, and ensuring confidentiality and support for the victim. Role-plays helped make this concrete (one scenario: a catechist suspects a child is being abused at home – what should she do? People acted it out). – Creating a Safe Parish Environment: The facilitators highlighted preventative measures: safe recruitment (background checks of anyone working with kids, even casual volunteers), clear codes of conduct (like no inappropriate contact, using proper language), and making sure children know their rights and can voice concerns. We realized we needed to put up posters with child helpline numbers and have suggestion boxes where kids could drop notes if they feel unsafe, etc. – Psychological and Spiritual Aspects: We also touched on the impact of abuse on victims and the importance of healing and justice. A very moving segment was when one facilitator shared a testimony (anonymized) of a survivor of abuse in a church setting – it really hit home why all this training matters. – Action Planning: On the final day, groups brainstormed how to implement what we learned in our parish. We drafted an action plan: forming a Parish Safeguarding Committee of 5 people to monitor and follow up, conducting awareness sessions for all children’s group leaders and the children themselves (in an age-appropriate way, to teach them to speak up), and integrating safeguarding checks into all parish events (like if kids go for a trip, ensure adequate supervision, permissions, etc.).
Reactions: Initially, some older folks were somewhat uncomfortable – these topics of abuse, especially sexual abuse, aren’t openly discussed in our culture. But as the workshop went on, they opened up, even sharing experiences. One grandmother in CWA stood up and recounted how as a child she knew a classmate who was abused by a relative and no one helped – her voice cracked as she said, “May our children never suffer in silence like that.” It was a poignant moment that galvanized everyone’s resolve.
Another powerful moment: the youth present were invited to give their perspective. A teenage girl bravely said, “Sometimes adults dismiss us, but we need you to listen when something is wrong.” It created empathy among the adults; some admitted they needed to become more approachable.
Outcome: By the end of day 3, there was a sense of mission. All participants signed a commitment to uphold the parish safeguarding code. The Bishop’s office was informed of our training, and they commended the initiative (Bishop Lagho is very keen on this area too). Our parish instituted immediate changes: – A notice was read at all Masses the following Sunday summarizing the workshop and announcing that safeguarding is a priority. – The newly formed Parish Safeguarding Committee put up “Child Protection is Everyone’s Responsibility” posters in Swahili and English around the compound. – We created a confidential register to log any incidents or suspicions, locked in the parish office accessible only to the committee and priest. – Catechism teachers began including short lessons for kids on body safety (“good touch/bad touch”) – something never done before here.
Follow-up sessions were planned (and indeed in Jan 2025 a refresher meeting happened to check progress).
The workshop also empowered individuals: catechists now felt confident to be vigilant, youth leaders learned how to maintain appropriate boundaries in youth activities, and generally a culture of openness started. For example, altar servers are now always in groups with at least two adults present – a precaution we consciously maintain.
One facilitator wrote an article about the workshop for the Jesuit news, noting that what we did in Muyeye could “apply to many of our apostolates and communities” as a model. We felt proud to be taking the lead on an important issue.
Overall, the safeguarding workshop was a seminal moment for our parish maturity. It showed that caring for the flock isn’t just about spiritual teaching but also protecting the dignity and wellbeing of each member. We pray our parish remains a haven where, as our Safeguarding motto states: “Every child of God is safe, valued, and respected.”
(Photo caption idea: Parish leaders in a circle discussion during the Safeguarding workshop, with a flipchart listing ‘Do’s and Don’ts for Child Safety’ visible.)
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