MALAWI: ECM Sensitizes Formators, Vocational Directors in Child Protection
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| Group Photo of the Workshop Participant |
In a bid to
strengthen the capacity of the Catholic Church in Malawi in dealing with issues
of child abuse and creating children’s safe environment, the Episcopal
Conference of Malawi (ECM) through its development arms of Catholic Development
Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) and Education Commission recently organized a
two day workshop for Catholic formators and Vocational directors to sensitize them
on child protection issues.
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.
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| Chimwemwe Phiri, ECM Child Protection Officer |
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.
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.
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| Br. Pascal Mtuwana, ECM Education Secretary |
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.
Communications Officer
