BIS Correspondent
WADALA, JULY 9, 2011: An awareness programme on the Protection of Minors was conducted for the entire staff of St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala on July 4, 2011. This session was conducted by the experienced counselor and Prafulta director, Fr. Godfrey D’Sa.
Fr. Godfrey began by citing an apt example of a four year old student of our school who was found unattended at Five Gardens, and thereafter the efforts of the school authorities to get in touch with the parents and caution them of the repercussions of such carelessness.
He said that the purpose of this session was to bring about an awareness of the happenings in our society. He stressed on the fact that presently “Children are most vulnerable”. Hence no adult task is more important than protecting children from harm and this awareness is the need of the hour.
The Salesians the world over have taken up this cause - to protect the rights of children- seriously, and have come up with a Policy Statement on the Protection of Minors and Guidelines for use in all Salesian institutions.
The Power Point Presentation on Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the following: 1) Definition 2) Prevalence 3) Effects of Child Sexual Abuse 4) Prevention and 5) Treatment. While concluding this session Fr. Godfrey reminded the gathering that as members of a Don Bosco institute we ought to be concerned about the well – being of everyone, especially children. We need to safeguard the rights of children and protect them from abuse as also to make a conscious effort to speak out and contribute actively against child abuse.
The staff members left with the belief that fidelity to the Salesian spirit and the Preventive system would enhance the rights of the children, protect and enable them to grow and mature healthily in a secure environment with caring elders to accompany them.