In 2024, Child Guardians made significant strides in mainstreaming safeguarding protocols, training hundreds of staff and partners, and developing innovative child-friendly protection tools adopted across Northwest Syria’s education sector.
Safeguarding in Action: Highlights from 2024
Leading Protection Innovation
In 2024, Child Guardians deepened its commitment to child safeguarding by moving beyond internal compliance toward sector-wide leadership and local innovation. From classrooms to community-based organizations, our safeguarding work focused on prevention, awareness, accountability, and impact.
We approached safeguarding as a shared responsibility—one that must be present in every conversation, every policy, and every child-facing activity. The result was a year of meaningful progress, practical tools, and stronger systems that help ensure children are not only protected, but also empowered to speak up and be heard.
Creating Safer Schools
One of the year’s key accomplishments was integrating safeguarding systems into education programming. In collaboration with educational authorities, we helped design and formalize procedures for suggestion and complaint boxes—now officially adopted by the Directorate of Education in Northwest Syria.
We also supported 12 schools in implementing full safeguarding systems. This included both technical and financial support, paired with ongoing follow-up to ensure meaningful integration. Over 500 hours of training and coaching were delivered to 209 school staff, including protection officers, to foster safer, more inclusive learning environments.
Snapshots from the Field: Creating safer, more inclusive schools through hands-on safeguarding activities led by students, teachers, and Child Guardians staff
Embedding Safeguarding in Everything We Do
Across the organization, we strengthened our internal systems to ensure safeguarding wasn’t confined to one department—it became embedded in how we recruit, train, contract, and operate.
Some of the key results included:
This internal consistency helped us build a strong, prevention-first culture that reaches every touchpoint in our operations.
Recruitments conducted under safe hiring protocols
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New staff, volunteers & teachers trained in safeguarding
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Procurement actions aligned with safe contracting standards
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Suppliers signed our Code of Conduct and attended orientation
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Responding with Integrity and Care
Ensuring strong reporting and response mechanisms is just as important as prevention. In 2024, we received 32 safeguarding concerns. Every case was taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and closed in line with international best practices.
We remained active members of the PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) Network, and continued our leadership within the Independent Investigations Group, which oversees complex cases across the region. Additionally, we passed multiple external audits of our safeguarding systems—further validating the strength and transparency of our work.
We remained active members of the PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) Network, and continued our leadership within the Independent Investigations Group, which oversees complex cases across the region.
Tools That Speak to Children
We know that awareness must be child-centered to be effective. That’s why we expanded our library of safeguarding materials to include:
We know that awareness must be child-centered to be effective. That’s why we expanded our library of safeguarding materials to include:
Designed for Impact: Child- and youth-friendly safeguarding materials that help children understand their rights and know how to speak up safely.
Leading from the Ground Up
A key achievement was leading several sector-wide initiatives with a focus on local ownership and inclusion.
In partnership with Christian Aid, we became the technical lead for a collective safeguarding effort across seven local organizations. We designed a comprehensive competency framework and a capacity-building plan—marking the first time such a role was led locally rather than by international actors.
We also developed a Syria-specific safeguarding framework for community-led programming (SCLR), now adopted institutionally by Christian Aid. This was complemented by a new set of child-friendly tools for students in grades 1 to 6—built on behavioral change methodology and inclusive of children with disabilities. Following positive results in target schools, these tools were officially endorsed for use in over 100 schools across Syria.
"In partnership with Christian Aid, we became the technical lead for a collective safeguarding effort across seven local organizations. We designed a comprehensive competency framework and a capacity-building plan—marking the first time such a role was led locally rather than by international actors."
Looking Ahead
The work we accomplished in 2024 demonstrated local capacity for safeguarding leadership. We implemented protocols and developed systems, mentored partners, and created tools that reflect the realities children face.
As we move forward, we remain committed to growing this work with the same principles that guided us this year: accountability, inclusion, and above all, the safety and dignity of every child.
Our Child Safeguarding Program
Child safeguarding is a core principle that guides every aspect of our work. It means taking proactive steps to protect children from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm—especially within the programs and services meant to support them.
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