Keeping Children Safe // Wise Short-term Missions
PRINCIPLES OF GOOD CHILD PROTECTION PRACTICE • Volunteer with organizations that have established
– and consistently implement and review – an official child protection policy with all staff, volunteers, and trip participants.
• Seek volunteer opportunities that occur outside the context of orphanages or children’s homes.
• Only volunteer with an organization that thoroughly screens and background checks all staff and volunteers.
• Only interact with a child in public, not in their home space. Make sure you always act under the invitation and supervision of parents and caregivers.
• Report suspected maltreatment of children or
suspicious activity in writing. Submit this to the organization you came with, trip organizers, and relevant authorities.
• Our decisions regarding how we serve vulnerable children need to always be focused on the best interest of the child.
• The risks to children in orphanages far outweigh the benefits. When considering volunteering, alternative models to orphanages have better odds of helping children with less liability.
• Although there may be benefits to volunteers, they
are not the deciding factor. Children are never a means to an end.