The “Safe from Harm” policy continues to expand across the region and is increasingly being integrated in the Caribbean, with significant progress in four National Scout Organizations: Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Dominica. Thanks to the support of the Interamerican Support Centre and a team of specialised consultants, Laura Baldassari and Luis González, assessments were carried out to help prepare the associations to implement this safeguarding policy more effectively.
One of the main challenges identified was the availability of time among volunteers, which poses a difficulty for sustained implementation. However, the commitment of local teams and regional support have been key to moving forward.
“Everyone should have this opportunity. It is very important and necessary to continue with this. Knowing that the Interamerican Support Centre is in contact with our National Scout Organization and that, when we ask for assistance, the regional body is ready to support,” said a representative from Saint Lucia.
In addition to working on the requirements identified during the initial assessment, the process also generated valuable input for future training and helped establish closer contact with the realities of each association.
“I enjoyed every step of the training and I look forward to many more similar sessions,” shared a participant from Dominica.
The thoroughness of the process was also highlighted by other associations:
“I appreciated how detailed the assessment was. The consultants, despite some challenges, managed to complete the work,” noted a member from Barbados.
“Many thanks for the impactful training sessions we had. Time was short, but the guidance we received was precise and timely. Thank you again for the support, and we look forward to completing this exercise,” commented representatives from Antigua and Barbuda.
This joint effort demonstrates the regional commitment to creating safe environments for everyone involved in the Scout Movement and marks a strong step towards consolidating the “Safe from Harm” policy in the Caribbean.
These actions are implemented as part of the Strengthening Scouting in the Caribbean project, thanks to the longstanding support and partnership of Alwaleed Philanthropies via World Scouting Grants.