1. Introduction
Dreamland Development Foundation (DDF) works closely with children and young people through its humanitarian, education, livelihoods and community programmes. DDF recognizes that all children have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence, and that the organization has a special duty of care towards children with whom it works directly or indirectly.
This Child Protection Policy sets out DDF’s commitments, principles, standards and procedures to prevent harm to children and to respond appropriately when concerns arise. It applies to all settings where DDF operates, including learning centers, community activities, field locations, offices, transit points and online platforms.
2. Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this policy is to:
· Protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of children who are reached by DDF’s programmes and activities.
· Ensure that all people associated with DDF understand their responsibilities to prevent, identify and report child abuse and exploitation.
· Establish clear procedures for safe recruitment, safe behaviour, reporting and responding to child protection concerns.
This policy applies to:
· All Dreamland Development Foundation staff (fulltime, parttime, fixedterm, probationary).
· All volunteers, interns and shortterm workers.
· All consultants, trainers and resource persons engaged by DDF.
· All members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board when acting on behalf of Dreamland Development Foundation.
· Partners, contractors and other third parties when they are working with or on behalf of Dreamland Development Foundation and have contact with children.
Compliance with this policy is a mandatory condition for working with DDF.
3. Guiding Principles
Dreamland Development Foundation’s Child Protection Policy is guided by:
· Best interests of the child – In all decisions and actions concerning children, the best interests of the child are a primary consideration.
· Zero tolerance – DDF does not tolerate any form of child abuse, exploitation, neglect or violence. No level of abusive or exploitative behaviour is acceptable.
· Nondiscrimination – All children are treated with equal respect and dignity, regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, nationality, displacement status or any other characteristic.
· Participation – Children are listened to, and their views are given due weight in decisions that affect them, in a manner appropriate to their age and maturity.
· Confidentiality and safety – Concerns and reports are handled confidentially, with information shared only on a needtoknow basis, and with priority given to the safety of the child and those who report.
· Do no harm – All programmes and decisions must consider and minimize potential risks to children, including unintended consequences.
4. Definitions
For the purposes of this policy:
· Child: Any person under the age of 18 years, regardless of local norms or definitions.
· Child abuse: All forms of physical and/or emotional illtreatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity.
· Physical abuse: Any act that causes actual or potential physical harm to a child, including hitting, beating, shaking, burning, poisoning or other physical harm.
· Emotional/psychological abuse: Persistent emotional maltreatment that adversely affects a child’s emotional development, such as verbal abuse, humiliation, threats, rejection, isolation or exposure to violence.
· Sexual abuse: Any actual or threatened sexual activity with a child, including contact and noncontact activities, where the child cannot give informed consent or is coerced, manipulated or forced.
· Exploitation: Using a child for someone else’s advantage, gratification or profit, including child labour, sexual exploitation, trafficking, forced marriage or recruitment into armed groups.
· Neglect: Persistent failure to provide for a child’s basic physical and/or emotional needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development.
· Child safeguarding: All measures taken to prevent and respond to abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence against children in DDF’s programmes and operations.
5. Dreamland Development Foundation’s Commitment to Child Protection
Dreamland Development Foundation’s commits to:
· Maintain a childsafe environment in all programmes, offices and activities.
· Integrate child protection considerations into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all programmes (humanitarian, education, livelihoods, health, social enterprise).
· Prevent persons who pose a risk to children from being recruited or engaged by DDF.
· Ensure that all staff and representatives know how to recognize, prevent and report child protection concerns.
· Take all concerns and allegations seriously and respond promptly, fairly and in line with national laws and good practice.
· Work, when appropriate and safe, with families, communities, service providers and authorities to protect children and support their wellbeing.
6. Roles and Responsibilities
· Board of Directors
· Approves and periodically reviews the Child Protection Policy.
· Ensures that child protection is integrated into Dreamland Development Foundation’s overall governance and risk management.
· Executive Director (ED)
· Has overall responsibility for implementation of this policy throughout DDF.
· Ensures that adequate resources, procedures and focal points are in place to support child protection.
· Child Protection Focal Point(s) (can be assigned at central and field level)
· Act as primary contacts for receiving and managing child protection concerns within Dreamland Development Foundation.
· Provide guidance to staff on applying this policy and escalate cases to the ED and/or relevant authorities as needed.
· Maintain secure and confidential records of all reported cases.
· Senior Management Team (SMT)
· Ensure that child protection measures are embedded in programmes and operations under their supervision.
· Support training and awareness raising for staff and partners.
· Human Resources
· Integrate child protection into recruitment, induction, performance management and disciplinary procedures.
· Ensure that contracts and job descriptions include child protection responsibilities where relevant.
· All Staff, Volunteers, Interns, Consultants and Board Members
· Read, understand and sign DDF’s Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct.
· Adhere to the behavioural standards outlined in this policy at all times.
· Immediately report any concerns or suspicions regarding possible child abuse or risk.
7. Safe Recruitment and Screening
To reduce the risk of child abuse by people working with or for DDF, the organization will:
· Use recruitment processes that clearly state DDF’s commitment to child protection (e.g., in job advertisements, interviews, reference checks).
· Require applicants for positions involving contact with children to:
· Provide at least two references, including at least one from a recent employer.
· Declare any previous criminal convictions or ongoing investigations related to children, violence or sexual offences.
· Conduct reference checks that specifically ask about suitability to work with children, as feasible and safe.
· Include child protection responsibilities, expectations and consequences of breaches in contracts and ToRs.
· Reserve the right to refuse employment or engagement, or to terminate contracts, for individuals who may pose a risk to children or who have violated child protection standards.
8. Behavioural Standards (Code of Conduct)
All individuals covered by this policy must follow these minimum standards of behaviour when interacting with children:
They must:
· Treat children with respect, dignity and fairness at all times.
· Listen to children and take their views seriously, in ways appropriate to their age and understanding.
· Ensure that activities with children are carried out in safe, open and accountable environments.
· Use positive, nonviolent methods of communication and discipline; encourage good behaviour through support and guidance.
· Immediately report any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of abuse or exploitation involving children.
· Respect the privacy and confidentiality of children and their families, sharing information only with those who need to know for safety reasons.
They must not:
· Hit, physically punish or emotionally abuse a child.
· Engage in any form of sexual activity with a child, including grooming, suggestive language, sexual jokes or any physical contact of a sexual nature.
· Develop relationships with children that could be seen as exploitative or abusive, including favouritism or “special” treatment (e.g., excessive gifts, private meetings, secret communication).
· Be alone with a child in a private or unobservable space, unless absolutely necessary and where another adult is nearby and aware.
· Take children to their private home or accommodation, or invite children to stay overnight, without appropriate approval and safeguards.
· Take photos, videos or audio recordings of children or share their information (including online) without proper consent and a clear, safe purpose.
· Use computers, phones or any digital device to access, store, display, distribute or create child sexual abuse materials or any content that exploits children.
· Consume alcohol or drugs in a manner that may impair judgement or behaviour while responsible for or in contact with children.
Breaches of these standards are treated as serious misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action, including dismissal and referral to authorities where appropriate.
9. Working with Partners and Third Parties
Where DDF works through or with partner organizations, schools, churches, community groups, suppliers or contractors who may have contact with children:
· DDF will inform them of its Child Protection Policy and share minimum standards.
· DDF will encourage and, where possible, require partners to have their own child protection/safeguarding policies that meet or exceed DDF’s standards.
· Agreements (MoUs, contracts) with partners and service providers will, where relevant, include clauses on child protection responsibilities and the consequences of breaches.
10. Communication, Media and Data Protection
When collecting, using and sharing information, images or stories about children:
· DDF will obtain informed consent from the child and, where appropriate, their parent/guardian before taking or using photos, videos or personal stories.
· DDF will not publish or share information that could reveal the identity or location of a child and put them at risk (e.g., full names, exact addresses, school name, detailed location).
· Images and stories will show children in a dignified and respectful way, not as helpless victims.
· All digital and physical records containing personal or sensitive information about children will be stored securely and accessed only by authorized staff.
11. Reporting Child Protection Concerns
All staff and representatives have a duty to report any:
· Concern or suspicion that a child may be at risk or has been harmed;
· Observation of staff, volunteer, partner or community behaviour that may be abusive or unsafe;
· Disclosure from a child or adult regarding possible abuse, exploitation or neglect.
Reports should be made immediately or as soon as possible and must not be delayed.
How to Report
· First point of contact: DDF’s Child Protection Focal Point or line manager.
· If the concern involves the line manager, report directly to the Child Protection Focal Point or the Executive Director.
· If the concern involves senior management or there is fear of retaliation, staff can report directly to the Board Chair or through any designated confidential reporting channel (bawiliankhum@ddfmyanmar.com or hotline info@ddfmyanmar).
At the time of reporting, the person should provide:
· Name and contact details (unless reporting anonymously).
· Name or description of the child(ren) involved, if known.
· Description of the concern or incident (what happened, when, where, who was involved).
· Any immediate risks to the child’s safety.
No one should conduct a full investigation on their own. Their responsibility is to report, not to prove that abuse has occurred.
12. Responding to Child Protection Concerns
Upon receiving a report:
1. The Child Protection Focal Point (or ED, where necessary) will make an initial assessment of the information and immediate risks.
2. The safety and wellbeing of the child will be the first priority; immediate protective actions may include removing a staff member from contact with children or adjusting activities.
3. If the allegation involves possible criminal conduct, or if the child is in immediate danger, DDF will, where safe and in line with local law and context, consider referring the matter to appropriate authorities or specialized child protection agencies.
4. Internal procedures may include:
· Documenting the concern in a secure incident report form.
· Interviewing the reporter and, if appropriate and safe, the child and relevant witnesses (using childfriendly approaches).
· Consulting with SMT and, where needed, the Board.
5. Where the alleged perpetrator is a DDF staff member, volunteer, consultant or Board member, DDF will consider immediate suspension or restriction of duties while the concern is assessed. Disciplinary procedures may result in warnings, termination of contract and, where relevant, referral to authorities.
6. DDF will seek to provide or facilitate access to appropriate support services for the affected child (e.g., medical care, psychosocial support, safe accommodation), taking into account the wishes and best interests of the child.
Retaliation against any person who, in good faith, reports a concern is strictly prohibited.
13. Training and Awareness
DDF will ensure that:
· All new staff, volunteers, interns and relevant partners receive orientation on this Child Protection Policy and sign the Child Protection Code of Conduct as part of their induction.
· Existing staff receive regular refresher training (at least every two years or as appropriate) on child protection, reporting procedures and safe behaviour.
· Managers and focal points receive additional training on handling disclosures, complaints and investigations in a childsensitive manner.
· Childappropriate information about their rights and available complaint mechanisms is shared with children involved in DDF programmes, where feasible and safe.
14. Risk Assessment and Programme Design
Programme managers and teams will:
· Integrate child protection risk assessments into programme design, implementation and monitoring.
· Identify activities that may pose higher risks to children (e.g., residential activities, transport, onetoone tutoring, online learning) and put in place extra safeguards (e.g., additional supervision, consent forms, stafftochild ratios).
· Review procedures regularly to ensure risks are minimized and mitigation measures remain effective.
15. Confidentiality, RecordKeeping and Data Protection
· All reports, records and documentation related to child protection concerns will be stored securely (locked cabinet or passwordprotected files) with access limited to authorized persons.
· Information will be shared only on a strict needtoknow basis for responding to the concern, protecting the child and fulfilling legal obligations.
· Personal data about children and staff will be handled in line with DDF’s confidentiality and data protection standards.
16. Breaches of the Policy
Any breach of this Child Protection Policy or the Child Protection Code of Conduct by a staff member, volunteer, intern, consultant or Board member may result in disciplinary action, including:
· Verbal or written warning.
· Suspension from duties, with or without pay.
· Termination of employment or engagement.
· Reporting to relevant authorities, professional bodies or other organizations, as appropriate.
Where a partner organization or contractor fails to meet agreed child protection standards, Dreamland Development Foundation may suspend or terminate the partnership or contract.
17. Policy Review and Amendment
This Child Protection Policy will be reviewed at least every three years, or sooner if there are significant changes in DDF’s programmes, legal context or learning from practice. The Board of Directors has the authority to approve amendments.
The Board of Directors of Dreamland Development Foundation hereby adopts this Child Protection Policy on this 1 day of January 2026.