The course “SAFEGUARDING. Child Safety in the Church Environment” has been translated into 5 foreign languages
The project “SAFEGUARDING. Child Safety in the Church Environment” brings together experts on the protection of minors from the Catholic Church in six countries: Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia, and Hungary. Thanks to this project, we are uniting with representatives of the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe to create a safe environment for children.
The course focuses on the key topics of combating violence against children, describes how to create a safe environment in the church where every child feels accepted and respected, basic safety rules for children, and algorithms for responding to cases of violence. This is an important joint work that helps to strengthen cooperation around child safety issues.
The illustrations for the course were created using the sketch technique - quick lines and spots without further correction - by artist and icon painter Ulyana Krekhovets. The artist was inspired by the style of folk icons on glass. Two colors were used as the basis - green (the color of life) and orange (the color of safety). Art has a universal language and speaks of important meanings across borders. The drawing enhances and better conveys the ideas of the course and helps to comprehend the difficult topics of violence against children.
Authors of the course:
- Ivanka Rudakevych, head of projects and programs at the UCU Center for Child Dignity, project coordinator
- Marta Dalgiewicz, coordinator of internal and external communication projects at the Office of the Delegate of the Polish Bishops' Conference for the Protection of Children and Youth.
- Sister Judit Szentes, pedagogical expert in the field of juvenile protection, responsible for Catholic education in Hungary.
- Maryna Šiaković, theologian, expert in the protection of minors and vulnerable persons from violence, member of the Council of Laity of the Bishops' Conference in Croatia, former secretary of the Commission of the Bishops' Conference of Croatia for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons.
- Sister Agnieszka Ewa Jarkowska, organizes courses and conducts formations on the protection of minors for monks, clergy, and laity and works with victims of violence in Slovakia.
- Father Marek O'Praem, a clergyman who accompanies victims of sexual abuse by clergy and monks, lectures on the protection of minors in the Czech Republic.
The course can be taken online at your convenience: https://www.ucu-edu.online/safeguarding
Take the training yourself and share it with anyone who needs it in their work with children.