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| Group Photo of the Workshop Participant |
The workshop which took place at Thondwe Pastoral Centre in Zomba, follows the approval of the Child Protection Policy for the Catholic Church by Bishops in Malawi during their plenary assembly in June this year.
Presenting his paper at the workshop, ECM's Child Protection Officer, Chimwemwe Phiri said the Church has a crucial role of balancing, safeguarding children so that they grow up holistically while protecting them from all kinds of abuses within and outside the Church structures.
Phiri acknowledged the existence of the various forms of abuses to children and stressed that there is no way that the Church can just ignore them. He further, explained that it is against this background that ECM organized the workshop to advance issues of child protection with Formators and Vocation Directors in an effort to lobby for inclusion of child protection issues in their formation houses.
He said the workshop therefore was a platform for the Formators and Vocational Directors to ensure that they incorporate issues of child protection in their respective programs at their institutions.
Presenting his paper at the workshop, ECM's Child Protection Officer, Chimwemwe Phiri said the Church has a crucial role of balancing, safeguarding children so that they grow up holistically while protecting them from all kinds of abuses within and outside the Church structures.
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| Chimwemwe Phiri, ECM Child Protection Officer |
He said the workshop therefore was a platform for the Formators and Vocational Directors to ensure that they incorporate issues of child protection in their respective programs at their institutions.
"How do we feel when children are hurt? And are there situations in our daily ministry where we feel we could have done more to preserve their future?" he asked.
Phiri urged participants to take a critical look at the problem and devise better mechanisms of addressing the challenges at hand.
For his part, Education Secretary for ECM, Brother Pascal Mtuwana said Catholic Bishops in the country are committed to protecting the rights of a child and this is the reason why they have approved the policy that aimed at safe guarding the life of a child.
"The Policy document which was approved by our Bishops will among others, ensure that the clergy, religious men and women and the laity in Malawi are sensitive to issue of child protection, create a safe environment and secure atmosphere for children so that they develop a sense of worthiness for themselves and others and gradually achieve a full and harmonious development of their personalities," said Brother Mtuwana.
He said the Child Protection project comes amidst consideration in the increase of reported and unreported child abuse cases in Malawi (of all forms), therefore, it is necessary that Church activities now become sensitive to Child Protection issues in fulfillment of its evangelization mission of love and justice.
"The project is in line with the Gospel values of our Lord "Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is, to such as these, that the Kingdom of God belongs" Mark 10:13-15),"he said.
For his part, Fr. Frank Chingale, the Dean of Studies at Kachebere Major Seminary commended ECM for taking an initiative to protect children from any abuse saying this is a breakthrough for the church as it breaks up the existing silence by the church on the problem.
"As Priests and Religious men and women, I feel it is high time we support this initiative of our Bishops in protecting a child within or outside the church. I entirely agree with the presenters to this workshop that we should now incorporate issues of Child protection in our programs," he said.
Participants to the workshop were drawn from the formation houses and seminaries in Malawi.
The Child Protection Project is funded by TROCAIRE for the initial period of one year to the tune of U$D 48,000.
Phiri urged participants to take a critical look at the problem and devise better mechanisms of addressing the challenges at hand.
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| Br. Pascal Mtuwana, ECM Education Secretary |
"The Policy document which was approved by our Bishops will among others, ensure that the clergy, religious men and women and the laity in Malawi are sensitive to issue of child protection, create a safe environment and secure atmosphere for children so that they develop a sense of worthiness for themselves and others and gradually achieve a full and harmonious development of their personalities," said Brother Mtuwana.
He said the Child Protection project comes amidst consideration in the increase of reported and unreported child abuse cases in Malawi (of all forms), therefore, it is necessary that Church activities now become sensitive to Child Protection issues in fulfillment of its evangelization mission of love and justice.
"The project is in line with the Gospel values of our Lord "Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is, to such as these, that the Kingdom of God belongs" Mark 10:13-15),"he said.
For his part, Fr. Frank Chingale, the Dean of Studies at Kachebere Major Seminary commended ECM for taking an initiative to protect children from any abuse saying this is a breakthrough for the church as it breaks up the existing silence by the church on the problem.
"As Priests and Religious men and women, I feel it is high time we support this initiative of our Bishops in protecting a child within or outside the church. I entirely agree with the presenters to this workshop that we should now incorporate issues of Child protection in our programs," he said.
Participants to the workshop were drawn from the formation houses and seminaries in Malawi.
The Child Protection Project is funded by TROCAIRE for the initial period of one year to the tune of U$D 48,000.
SOURCE: Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer