Child Safeguarding Policy

• The best interests of the child come first.
• Every child is protected equally, without discrimination.
• Respect for children's dignity, voice and privacy.
• Prevent first; respond promptly.

• No one-adult-to-one-child contact out of sight of others.
• No language, behaviour or imagery inappropriate for children.
• No private gifts to or from individual children outside the program.
• No private contact with children via social media or personal messaging.
• No photographing or posting images of children without appropriate consent (see the Image Policy).

Every volunteer in activities involving contact with children will undergo background verification to the extent possible, sign a commitment to this policy and receive safeguarding training before taking part.

Anyone who notices signs that a child is being harmed, neglected or at risk must report immediately to the project's safeguarding focal point and, where needed, to the authorities. In Vietnam, the National Child Protection Hotline is 111 (free, 24/7).

The project will appoint a safeguarding focal point and publish a contact channel before launching activities.

We do not exploit hardship to elicit pity. Every image and story respects the child and reveals no identifying information (full name, address, specific school or class) without the consent of the guardian and, at an age-appropriate level, the child.

Implementing partners must have an equivalent child-safeguarding policy or commit to this one.

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and after any incident.