Make A Difference (MAD) Protection Policy

 

Make A Difference (MAD) is committed to the protection of youth from all forms of harm. In particular, the safety and well-being of students coming into contact with MAD's programs is a paramount concern. The reputation of MAD and MAD's volunteer efforts in overseas countries is also important.

This policy provides guidance to staff, volunteers and program participants on the acceptable behaviors and appropriate boundaries when coming into contact with children. Although MAD's staff, volunteers, and program participants are not required to work directly with children and youth, it is inevitable that they will be in contact with them while engaged in MAD's programs and projects. This policy is applicable to all situations when such contact is made.

MAD will review this policy every three years or earlier if warranted. MAD will remove any staff member, volunteer, or program participant from any aspect of MAD's operations when it considers that person poses an unacceptable risk to safety. Definition of a child: A child is regarded to be any person 18 years and under, regardless of the age of consent locally. All youth over 18 sign agreements to abide by our policy below each year when they reapply to be part of our program.

MAD's staff, sponsors, volunteers and program participants will:

  • Treat every student we help with dignity and respect regardless of differences of ethnicity, religion, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, disability, birth status, and economic circumstances.

  • Conduct themselves in a manner consistent with their position as a positive role model and as a representative of Make A Difference.

  • Immediately raise and report any concerns for the safety or well-being of a student with the director of Make A Difference.

  • Be visible when working with students. Avoid being alone with and, wherever possible, ensure that other adults are present when working in the proximity of students.

  • Volunteers should be mindful of the following if they are photographing or filming students. Assess and endeavor to comply with local traditions or restrictions for reproducing personal images. If in doubt, queries are to be directed to the operations manager in the first instance or director. Wherever possible, obtain consent from the student. The intended use of the photograph or film should be explained. Ensure photographs, films, videos and DVDs present students in a dignified and respectful manner and not in a vulnerable or submissive manner. Ensure images are honest representations of the context and the facts. Ensure photograph or film labels do not reveal private information about a students when sending images electronically unless it is to a sponsor.

MAD staff, sponsors, volunteers and program participants will not:

Engage in any behavior that is intended to favor, shame, humiliate, belittle, or degrade students.

  • Act in a way that shows unfair differential treatment, or favoring particular students to the exclusion of others. Sponsors and volunteers cannot gift students directly with electronic devices, phones or any gifts beyond what is recommended by our staff for special events such as birthdays and graduations.

  • Talk to their sponsored student outside of specified times and channels provided by Make A Difference. We monitor communications between sponsors and children. All letters between sponsors and students are reviewed before being delivered. We check for things like inappropriate language and topics, promises of money or gifts and sharing personal contact information. Sponsors and students agree not to connect via social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc.

  • We have visit guidelines in place for anyone who may have contact with children and youth or their personal information. Visitors can be sponsors, donors, board members, vendors, interns and others. All visitors follow the visit guidelines, which include: No unannounced visits. Visits are supervised by MAD staff at all times. Visitors are expected to follow culturally acceptable standards of conduct and dress. We may conduct a background check for anyone 18 and older who will be meeting any students in person, for the safety of the student. Information is kept confidential and secure.

  • Use language, make suggestions, offer advice or engage in any behavior that is inappropriate, offensive, harassing, sexually provocative, demeaning, culturally inappropriate or abusive.

  • Do things of a personal nature that a student can do for him/herself, such as assistance with the toilet or changing clothes.

  • Take students to their own accommodation unless they are at immediate risk of injury or in physical danger.

  • Sleep in the same room or bed as a student unless absolutely necessary, in which case, permission must be obtained, and another adult must be present wherever possible.

  • Physically punish or discipline a student.

  • Engage students in any form of sexual activity or acts, including paying for sexual activity or acts, where under the law(s) applicable.

  • Act in ways that may be abusive or place a student at risk of abuse.

  • Behave physically in a manner that is inappropriate or sexually provocative towards a student.

  • Condone, or participate in, behavior towards students which is illegal, unsafe or abusive.

  • Record or publish any student’s name or any address details with photographs without consulting the student and Make A Difference.

  • Hold, kiss, cuddle or touch a student in an inappropriate, unnecessary or culturally insensitive way. Touching should only be only with the student’s permission (except in an emergency situation); avoid the breasts, buttocks and groin; and be open and not secretive.

  • Use any computers, mobile phones, or video and digital cameras inappropriately, or access pornography through any medium.

  • Take a student for any outings on their own as a sponsor or volunteer. All visits are to be monitored by our staff.

  • Hire children for domestic or other labor which is inappropriate given their age or developmental stage, which interferes with their time available for education and recreational activities, or which places them at significant risk of injury.


    Note for sponsors:

  • The total funds required to support a student may be sourced from one or more sponsors.

  • We have a the right to cancel sponsorship at anytime if we feel it it is important to do so in order to protect a student and our organization or if sponsorship payments have been skipped and no effort has been made to make up for lapsed payments.

  • The Information about our students may vary from year to year as our staff discover new information regarding our students. Some students don’t have records of their birthdays because they weren’t born at hospitals and their parents aren’t alive.

  • Make A Difference is indemnified against any claims, demands, liability, actions, damages, costs and expenses incurred or suffered by the sponsor.

  • Nothing contained or implied with sponsorship creates or purports to create any paternal/maternal or guardianship rights between the sponsor and any sponsored student.

Policy dated: January 2020