By Suzan Edeh
WaterAid Nigeria in collaboration with Women Development Association for Self Sustenance (WODASS) and partnership with the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and stakeholders commemorated the Child Safeguarding week in Misau local government area of Bauchi State.
To mark the week, a two day training on Child safeguarding for teachers, members of School Based Management Committee (SBMC), Local Education Authority(LEA), teachers and school principals from six selected schools in Misau LGA were conducted at the Government Girls Day Secondary School Misau.
Declaring the training open, a WaterAid Representative in Bauchi, Joy Owoicho stated that WaterAid recognizes that children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence which includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and sexual abuse.
According to her, WaterAid through its work came into contact with some of the vulnerable and marginalized communities, where a commitment to child safeguarding is paramount.
She said that the provision and delivery of clean water, sanitation and hygiene through partners is one of the ways in which WaterAid comes into contact with children, stressing that ensuring the appropriate level of duty of care to safeguard children is vital for the organisation.
"We ensure that those benefiting from or working with WaterAid are not harmed in any way through contact with us. As such, we aim to ensure that a child is safe in all that we do by safeguarding children through our work" She said
Also Speaking at the Training, a SUBEB Representative, Hajiya Talatu Yakubu
encouraged the students not to keep quiet whenever they have any safeguarding concerns in and outside the school environment, stressing that they should report to their parents, guardians and school authorities whenever their rights are being violated.
She said that the training was important for them as they it will create an awareness of their rights and knowing how to protect themselves from harm
A Gender Desk Office of RUWASSA, Rahab Danladi urged parents and guardians to be more sensitive to the needs and emotions of their children by considering how they feel and knowing what is bothering them, adding that by doing so, it will give them a sense of belonging.
She further urged parents and guardians to become more vigilant and monitor the activities in their homes, especially as it pertains to the girls in order to avoid issues of sexual harassment, intimidation and violence.
The schools that participated in the training include Government Girls Day Secondary School Misau, Government Junior Secondary School Hardawa North, Government Junior Secondary School Mangari Misau, Government Girls Junior Secondary School Fawari Misau, Government Girls Junior Secondary School Hardawa Central and Government Girls Junior Secondary School Sabon Gari Misau.
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