Tadika Rhema, Tadika Trinity Methodist now Child Safety Audit certified
KUCHING: Tadika Rhema and Tadika Trinity Methodist received their Child Safety Audit Certificates yesterday after passing an audit conducted by nongovernmental organisation (NGO) Suriana Welfare Society Malaysia (SWSM).
They are the first two kindergartens in Kuching to implement the Childsafe Initiative, a programme that child care institutions can use to protect children and reduce risk of abuse.
SWSM executive director Scott J Wong told reporters that it is a multifaceted approach that involves students, teachers and parents.
“It has reduced the risk by 80 per cent in places that implement the programme,” he said.
Prior to Kuching, they have made significant impact on over 77 organisations in Peninsular Malaysia. They plan to bring their programme to 16 more kindergartens in Sarawak next year. While their focus is on private kindergartens, SWSM also welcomes inquiries from government operated ones.
SWSM was in Kuching to conduct their first ever child safety workshop, comprising topics such as what the adoption of Child Safety Programme implies, the legal requirements under the Child Act 2001, and preventive strategies that organisations can take to improve child safety.
Wong who was one of the speakers, has more than 25 years of experience in dealing with youth issues, and is a trainer in media, marketing, branding consultancy and cyber-wellness.
The other speakers were SWSM chairman James Nayagam, former Human Rights commissioner and currently the commissioner for the Government Enforcement Agencies Commission, and Dr Amar Singh a senior consultant paediatrician and paediatric department head at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh, Perak.
The Childsafe Initiative includes implementation of Mandatory Employees’ Screening, Standard Operating Procedures, Disiplinary Guidelines, Cyber Wellness, AntiBullying Awareness and other programmes for management, teachers parents and children.
The initiative also works towards ensuring that the institutions and facilities abide to strict Fire Safety, First Aid and CPR programmes.
Present to receive the certificates from SWSM were Tadika Rhema managing director Matthew Ling and Trinity Methodist Church pastor-incharge Rev Lau Hui Ming.
For more information on SWSM, visit them at suriana.org or fb.me/surianawelfaresociety, or contact Wong at 012-2027600 or scottjwong@gmail.com.