Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

The Matele Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults who interact with our organisation. This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, mentors, partners, and anyone working on behalf of the foundation.

1. Our Commitment

• The safety and welfare of young people is our paramount concern
• All young people have a right to protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• We work to create safe environments for every person who participates in our programmes
• We comply fully with Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019, especially Section 33 on children's data

2. Consent and Guardianship

• For programmes and events primarily serving minors, we collect guardian contact details as the primary registrant contact, not the minor's own
• We collect the minimum data necessary about any minor
• Processing of a child's personal data requires documented parental/guardian consent

3. Photography and Media

• Every published photograph or video involving a minor requires specific, documented guardian consent — general event signage is not treated as sufficient
• Minors are identified by first name only (or not at all) in public captions and stories, unless a guardian has specifically consented to fuller identification
• Any individual or guardian can request removal of their image at any time
• Images with unresolved or withdrawn consent are never published

4. Reporting a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern about a young person involved in our activities, please:

• Contact us immediately via our contact form (select "Safeguarding Concern")
• Email: info@thematelefoundation.org
• All safeguarding reports are treated with the highest priority and confidentiality

5. Image Removal Requests

Any individual (or a minor's guardian) can request the removal of their image from our website and publications. We will unpublish the image immediately upon receipt of the request and confirm the removal.

6. Staff and Volunteer Obligations

All staff, volunteers, and mentors are expected to familiarise themselves with this policy and to report any safeguarding concern through the channels above. Failure to report a known concern is treated seriously.

Note: This safeguarding policy is a draft and should be reviewed by a qualified child-safeguarding professional before being treated as the foundation's final policy.