Child Safeguarding Policy

Teenage Girls Rehab Foundation is committed to protecting children and young people from abuse, exploitation, neglect, discrimination, violence, harassment, and other forms of harm.

The safety, dignity, rights, wellbeing, and best interests of every child involved with the Foundation are fundamental to our work.

This policy applies to Foundation staff, volunteers, trustees, interns, consultants, contractors, partners, visitors, and anyone acting on behalf of the Foundation.

Nigeria's child-rights framework recognizes important rights and protections for children, including protection from exploitation and abuse.

For this policy, a child means a person under 18 years of age, subject to applicable law.

This policy applies to:

• Foundation offices and facilities.
• Rehabilitation and support programmes.
• Educational and community activities.
• Events and excursions.
• Online activities.
• Social media interactions conducted on behalf of the Foundation.
• Communications with beneficiaries.
• Transport arranged by the Foundation.
• Activities involving Foundation staff, volunteers, partners, or representatives.

The Foundation will:

• Put the best interests and safety of the child first.
• Treat every child with dignity and respect.
• Take children's views seriously and appropriately.
• Avoid discrimination.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Protect children's privacy and personal information.
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure staff and volunteers understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

The Foundation does not tolerate:

• Physical abuse.
• Sexual abuse or exploitation.
• Emotional or psychological abuse.
• Neglect.
• Bullying or harassment.
• Child trafficking or exploitation.
• Child labour where prohibited by law.
• Grooming or inappropriate relationships.
• Discrimination.
• Intimidation or threatening behaviour.
• Any other conduct that places a child at risk of harm.

Adults working with children must:

• Behave professionally and respectfully.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Avoid unnecessary private or secret communication with children.
• Avoid situations that unnecessarily place an adult and child alone together.
• Never request inappropriate photographs or information from a child.
• Never use humiliating, degrading, threatening, or abusive language.
• Never exploit a child's trust or vulnerability.
• Follow the Foundation's procedures for communication, transport, activities, and reporting concerns.

Where digital communication with beneficiaries is necessary, it should take place through approved Foundation channels wherever reasonably possible.

Staff and volunteers should not use private communication to create secret or inappropriate relationships with children.

Communication should be professional, necessary, respectful, and appropriate to the child's age and circumstances.

Photographs, videos, interviews, and stories involving children must be handled in accordance with the Foundation's Consent & Media Release Policy.

Children must not be photographed or filmed in situations that compromise their dignity, privacy, safety, or wellbeing.

Anyone who has a safeguarding concern should report it as soon as reasonably possible. Reports should be made to:

If the Safeguarding Officer is the subject of the concern, the report should be made to:

Where necessary, concerns may also be reported to appropriate authorities or emergency services in accordance with applicable law and circumstances.

If a child tells a staff member or volunteer about a safeguarding concern, the adult should:

• Listen calmly.
• Take the child seriously.
• Avoid blaming or judging the child.
• Avoid making promises of absolute confidentiality.
• Record the information accurately and promptly.
• Report the concern through the Foundation's safeguarding procedure.
• Take reasonable steps to protect the child from further harm.

Staff and volunteers should not attempt to conduct their own investigation.

Safeguarding information must be handled sensitively and shared only with people who have a legitimate need to know.

However, confidentiality must not prevent appropriate action to protect a child from harm or comply with a legal obligation.

Where permitted and appropriate, the Foundation will take reasonable steps to ensure that people working directly with children are suitable for their roles. This may include:

• Identity verification.
• Reference checks.
• Interviews.
• Relevant background checks where available and legally appropriate.
• Safeguarding training.
• Agreement to comply with Foundation policies.

Staff and volunteers who work with children should receive appropriate safeguarding orientation and training. Training should cover:

• Recognizing safeguarding concerns.
• Professional boundaries.
• Appropriate communication.
• Reporting procedures.
• Confidentiality.
• Child protection responsibilities.
• Online safety.

Where the Foundation arranges transportation or activities involving children, reasonable safety procedures should be established.

These may include appropriate supervision, authorized drivers, emergency contacts, attendance records, and parent/guardian permissions where required.

The Foundation will take reasonable measures to protect children participating in its online activities.

Staff and volunteers must not use Foundation platforms to engage in inappropriate communication or behaviour toward children.

Safeguarding records must be stored securely and accessed only by authorized persons.

Records should be accurate, factual, confidential, and retained in accordance with applicable requirements and the Foundation's records-management procedures.

No person should be punished, threatened, intimidated, or disadvantaged merely for making a safeguarding report honestly and in good faith.

Knowingly making false allegations may, however, be addressed through appropriate procedures.

A breach of this policy may result in disciplinary action, removal from Foundation activities, termination of a volunteer or employment relationship, referral to relevant authorities, or other appropriate action.

This policy should be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to the Foundation's activities, safeguarding risks, or applicable legal requirements.

Approved By: Board of Trustees

Approval / Review Date: August 20, 2026