SAFEGUARDING POLICY

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• protect the youth who receive services from the Dora Edu-Buandoh Foundation from harm;
• provide staff and volunteers, as well as the youth with the overarching principles that guide our approach to protection for participants in our programmes.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of the Dora Edu-Buandoh Foundation LBG,

including the Working Team Leads, Directors, Advisory Board, paid staff, volunteers, and

participants of our programmes.

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of policy and guidance from the Ministry of

Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Ghana, which was created by an

Executive Instrument 1 (E.I. 1) in January, 2013. The primary objective for the Ministry is to

be responsible for policy formulation, coordination and monitoring and evaluation of Gender, Children and Social Protection issues within the context of the national development agenda.

A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from https://www.mogcsp.gov.gh

This policy statement should be read alongside the Concept Note of the Foundation available in print and online on the website of the Foundation www.debfoundationgh.org

The Concept Note states the vision, mission and the objectives of the Foundation. It also

details the Core Values that guide the operation of the Foundation.

• The youth should never experience abuse of any kind
• We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of the youth
• We have the duty to keep all people who work with us and participants of our programmes safe and we should practise in a way that protects them.

• the welfare of the young women is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
• working in partnership with the youth, especially young women and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of participants in our programmes and our volunteers.
• all youth, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse’
• some youth, especially young women, are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues and that extra safeguards may be needed to keep the youth who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a youth protection lead for the Foundation for safeguarding
• adopting youth protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies,
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently 
• recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance of Ghana https://www.dataprotection.org.gh
• making sure that youth we work with know where to go for help if they have a concern
• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
• ensuring that we have effective complaints and measures in place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for the youth, people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• building a safeguarding culture where staff, volunteers, and participants of our programmes treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

Youth Protection Lead

Name: Ms. Ewoenam Abusah

Email: Ewoenam.abusah@ucc.edu.gh

Director/Senior Lead for Safeguarding

Name: Ms. Hilda Addah

Email: hildaaddah@gmail.com

DEB Foundation Helpline +233598635225

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practices biennially.

This is the first Safeguard Policy of the Foundation signed on January 15, 2024 to be

reviewed in 2026.