YOUTH SAFETY AND PROTECTION WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH CENTER STAFF

The Youth Center Division of the Department of Youth and Sports, is conducting a 5-day workshop in Thimphu from today on making the Youth Centers and Youth Friendly Integrated Service Centers safe, both physical and psychosocial as well as friendly for young people. Since children and youth come to Youth Centers and Youth Friendly Integrated Service Centers to avail various programs and services every day, it is felt important that these Centers are made safe and conducive for them at all times. Hence, this workshop has been designed to orient the staff on child protection, disaster management and first-aid services so that they can ensure safety and wellbeing for children and youth at the Centers.

For the first two days, the participants will be introduced to the basic principles of child protection, child rights and responsibilities, identify children and youth requiring support by linking them to appropriate services. More importantly, the participants will learn how to deal with children and youth sensitively and professionally so that they would feel cared and understood.

On 18th May, the participants shall be oriented on disaster management and how to ensure physical safety at the Youth Centers and Youth Friendly Integrated Service Centers in times of disasters and emergency situations. They shall learn how to recognize potential risks for disasters and develop appropriate strategies to prevent them. With the basic knowledge and skills on disaster management, it is expected that the staff of Youth Centers and Youth Friendly Integrated Service Centers would be able to respond to crises appropriately and ensure physical safety for children and youth at the Centers.

On 19th May, the participants will be oriented on how to provide basic first-aid services to children and youth at the Centers in times of medical emergencies. The sessions are designed to equip the participants with basic first-aid techniques and skills to respond to medical emergencies at the Centers. Since so many children and youth come to the Centers regularly, equipping the staff with such knowledge and skills would help them prepare better in times of emergency situations and respond to the crises more appropriately. On the final day, the participants shall review all the sessions covered during the workshop and develop youth safety plans for their Centers. Besides, they shall also discuss general administrative issues/concerns and plan a way forward to address them.

A total of 18 staff from nine Youth Centers and four Youth Friendly Integrated Service Centers are attending the workshop which is being facilitated by professionals from relevant agencies. It is hoped that the knowledge and skills gained from the workshop will help the staff make their Centers a safe space for children and youth at all times.