FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOP FOR CHILD PROTECTION OFFICERS(CPO S) & CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS(CPC S).

Transcription

1 FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOP FOR CHILD PROTECTION OFFICERS(CPO S) & CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS(CPC S). The two-day Follow up Workshop on the implementation of Child Protection Policy (CPP) was held for the Child Protection Officer s (CPO s) and Child Protection Committee (CPC) Members from the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka at CSI BCC campus, Bangalore on 18 th and 19 th of January This program was jointly organized by KNH and CSIBCC. There were totally 32 CPC members and, 4 CPO s who participated in this program. The 32 CPC Members (Child Care Workers, Social Workers, Headmaster/Headmistress) represented Child Care Projects supported by KNH/CSIBCC in the Dioceses of Vellore, Coimbatore, Madurai-Ramnad, Trichy-Tanjore, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, South Kerala, Cochin, Southern Karnataka and Central Karnataka. There was one participant, who is the Headmistress from Shalom Kerala Ecumenical Mission Center a special school with residential care facility for mentally challenged children. Thus the participants consisting of child care representatives from the Residential Care Programme, Day Care Programme and Programme for children with different abilities supported through KNH/CSIBCC in South India participated in the workshop sharing vast experiences from the field. The facilitating team consisted of the following members: Mr. Sathish Samuel, CPP - KNH Consultant Mr. Thomas Jayaraj, National Trainer, KNH-CPP India Program Ms. L.T Stegana Jency, National Co-trainer, KNH India CPP Program Ms. Saranya Sathish Resource person for Psycho Social Intervention Follow-up workshop of CPP-Tamilnadu, Kerala(Spl. Projects), Karnataka Southern & Central Region 1

2 Day - 1 The inaugural session of the Follow up workshop for Child Protection Officers and Child Protection Committee Members was started with devotions led by Rev. Solomon Raj, from CSI Seva. He elaborately spoke on 2 Kings : Chapter 5, the life of Naaman and his cure from disability. While speaking in the inaugural function, Mr.Anil Kumar Charles, Director-CSIBCC, appreciated the participants for effectively implementing the CSI BCC Child Protection Policy at Project level for the safety and protection of children. Mr. Sathish Samuel CPP Consultant explained the commitment of KNH in implementing the CPP at all levels. Mr. Thomas Jayaraj, National Trainer, KNH-CPP India Program, formally introduced the objectives of the workshop and the expected outcome of the same. Objectives of the Workshop To review the effective implementation of CSI BCC at Project level, its best practices and challenges. Sharing of experience to identify the gaps towards effective implementation of CPP. To evolve an action plan to further strength and sustain effectively the implementation of CSI BCC CPP. Session - 1 Before the start of the first session, a group work was organized by Ms. Saranya Sathish, as part Follow-up workshop of CPP-Tamilnadu, Kerala(Spl. Projects), Karnataka Southern & Central Region 2

3 of the ice breaking session, wherein the participants introduced each other and learnt about their likes and dislikes. During this time the participants were divided into 5 groups. The need of organizational Child Protection Policy and its effective implementation : In this session, the participants who were grouped into 5 teams were asked various questions on the understanding on Child Protection Policy. This included topics such as national and international laws existing for protection of children, the various aspects related to child protection and the management of child rights. The group members actively participated as each question answered were awarded points. It was a lively session and the participants relearned a great deal on CPP. Session 2 Sharing of experiences (Presentation Diocese wise) The participants were given the opportunity to present their experiences in implementing CSIBCC - Child Protection Policy (CPP) at the project level. This consisted of best practices and Follow-up workshop of CPP-Tamilnadu, Kerala(Spl. Projects), Karnataka Southern & Central Region 3

4 challenges faced at the field level. The CPC members from each diocese presented the same through skit, charts, flex banner and PPT. And as the participants consisted of staff from the above mentioned Programmes, such as from Residential Care Programme, Day Care Programme and Programme for children with different abilities, there was equal participation and sharing of knowledge gained from field experiences. The participants have learned the Best Practices in implementing CPP from each diocese. Representatives/ participants from Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Trichy Tanjore, Madurai Ramnad Dioceses presented their lessons learnt and ways forward in streamlining the CPP based on their experiences and expectations in the field. Towards the close of the day, the facilitating team met with the Key staff of CSIBCC, and interacted on the ways forward in implementing the CPP in the field. Discussions were also held on the practical observations that were made by the facilitating team during their recent visits to certain Projects in all the 5 South Indian states. Day 2 Sharing of experiences (Presentation Project wise) The same exercise of sharing their challenges and best practices continued among those Diocese / Project who were unable to represent the previous day. The Dioceses from Vellore, South Kerala, Cochin, Southern and Central Karnataka presented their experiences from the field, which include best practices, lessons learnt / challenges. It was a time of discussions as many of the solutions to the challenges faced, were brought out through presentation from other Diocese. Hence this was a time of learning as all challenges were equally addressed though solutions from among the participants, themselves. Session 3 Psychosocial Intervention for Children The need for this important element of the Programme was first through of by Mr. Anil Charles, Director of CSIBCC in the wake of certain instances of depression among the youths in the CSIBCC supported projects in South India, who were unsuccessful in the public examinations of 10 th and 12 th stds. While forecasting the methodology and ways forward in intervening in the lives of such vulnerable children, it was felt that it may be first introduced to the participants of Follow-up workshop of CPP-Tamilnadu, Kerala(Spl. Projects), Karnataka Southern & Central Region 4

5 this particular workshop before attempting regional interpretations of the same at the Diocesan levels. The facilitator explained the need and importance of Psychosocial Intervention for Children, especially for those who would be attempting the 10 th and 12 th public examinations. She also explained about the comfort zone, stretch/learning zone and panic/danger zone through play way method. The participants have actively involved and understood the concept of behavior empowering support techniques. Further adding to the importance that the Child Care Workers felt on this topic and its relevance, the CSIBCC is planning to capacitate itself and the staff in the field on the same, in order to ensure that the rights of the children to education and their attempts to overcome failure is addressed holistically. Session 4 Addressing Challenges and gaps in the effective implementation of Child Protection Policy. The CCRD team have identified the challenges and gaps in implementing CPP at the Project level during their visits to various projects and suggestions for same were given for effective implementation of CCP. These suggestions shall be incorporated in the CPP streamlining synthesis periodically, based on the learning from the field. Follow-up workshop of CPP-Tamilnadu, Kerala(Spl. Projects), Karnataka Southern & Central Region 5

6 Group presentation on Addressing challenges and gaps The participants were requested to present their challenges and gaps in implementing CPP at diocesan wise. The same was discussed and found the solutions for effective implementation of CPP. Session 5 Action Plan The participants were requested to prepare an action plan for implementing CPP at the project level for the next year and the same have been collected from them for monitoring purpose. The action includes, presiding of CPC periodically, opening of complaints / suggestions, recording the same, and taking action on the same. Concluding session: The Child Protection Committee Members were happy and expressed that the two days workshop was very much informative and helpful for effective implementation of Child Protection Policy at the project level. They also thanked the facilitators for capacitating them on implementing CPP and thanked CSI BCC for organizing the program and for the hospitality extended during these two days. The participants were very much motivated to carry out the learning into the field and expressed their unified expression of interest to ensuring and assuring the rights of the children is addressed efficiently in their Dioceses. Finally, the Director, CSIBCC thanked all the participants and the resource team. The meeting concluded with the prayer offered by Associate Director, CSI BCC. Follow-up workshop of CPP-Tamilnadu, Kerala(Spl. Projects), Karnataka Southern & Central Region 6