Child Safeguarding and Protection in the Province East Central Africa

From 12 to 15 December, in the city of Kigali (Rwanda), 23 Marist leaders from across the Province East Central Africa held a meeting on Child Safeguarding and Protection.

The meeting was, on one hand, the culmination of a 3-year journey with the presentation of the “Provincial Policy on Child Safeguarding”, and on the other hand, the launching pad for its implementation in all Marist apostolates and communities as we begin the year 2023.

Brothers Brendan Geary (West Central Europe) and John Ngigi (Salesian), who have accompanied the Province during the provincial journey, coordinated the assembly and the participants also benefited with the valuable input from Brother Ken McDonalds (General Councilior) on Marist standards and best practices on Safeguarding and the eye opening experiences of Mrs. Theresa Mema, an advocate of women rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As a Brother pointed out towards the end of the assembly: “the week has been an experience, where we have been through a process of awareness, conversion and conviction.”

Brother Kiko Baeza, Econome Provincial and charged for the Child Safeguarding & Protection in the Province affirmed: “We come out of our assembly knowing that we still have a long way to go, however committed to ensure our apostolates are safe havens for the children and young people entrusted to our care.”