Child safeguarding policy

1. Our commitment

STEMSUP Education & Environment Foundation works with children, many of them from marginalised and first-generation-learner families. We have zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation or neglect of any child. The welfare of the child is always our first consideration, above our reputation, our programmes or the interests of any adult.

This policy follows Indian law, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. It is guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the international Keeping Children Safe standards.

2. Who this policy applies to

Everyone who works with or for STEMSUP: directors, staff, mentors, volunteers, interns, consultants, partner organisations and visitors to our programmes. A child means anyone under 18 years of age.

3. Principles

• Every child has an equal right to protection, regardless of gender, caste, religion, disability, language, background or ability.
• Children are listened to and taken seriously when they speak up.
• We prevent harm before it happens through safe recruitment, training and clear rules.
• We act on every concern promptly and report as the law requires.
• We share information only on a need-to-know basis, protecting the child’s privacy.

4. Safe recruitment

Before anyone works directly with children, we check their identity, take references, and where available obtain police verification. Every person signs our code of conduct and this policy. New volunteers and staff are supervised until they have completed safeguarding training.

5. Code of conduct

Everyone covered by this policy must:

• Treat every child with respect and dignity, and never use physical punishment, humiliation or threats.
• Follow the “two-adult rule”: avoid being alone with a child out of sight of others. Meet in open, visible spaces.
• Never have contact with a child that is sexual, or behave in a way that could be seen as grooming, including giving gifts or money privately or asking a child to keep secrets.
• Not contact children privately on personal phones or social media. Communicate through parents, guardians, teachers or official STEMSUP channels.
• Not give children alcohol, tobacco or any harmful substance, and not use them in front of children.
• Not employ a child in work that breaks the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
• Report any concern about a child’s safety, or about the behaviour of anyone towards a child, without delay.

6. Photographs, stories and online safety

• We take or publish photographs, videos or stories of a child only with written consent from a parent or guardian, and the child’s own agreement where they are old enough to give it.
• We never publish a child’s full name together with their photograph, school or village, and never share images that could identify a child in a vulnerable situation.
• Images show children appropriately dressed and treated with dignity.
• Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and we will remove the material from our channels.
• Online sessions use official accounts, are scheduled through parents or teachers, and are not recorded without consent.

7. Recognising and responding to concerns

Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, and can happen online or offline. If a child tells you about abuse:

• Stay calm, listen, and take them seriously. Don’t ask leading questions or investigate yourself.
• Don’t promise to keep it a secret. Explain that you will need to tell people who can help.
• Write down what was said, in the child’s own words, with the date and time, as soon as possible.
• Tell the Designated Safeguarding Lead on the same day.

8. Reporting

Under Section 19 of the POCSO Act, anyone who knows or suspects that a sexual offence against a child has happened, or may happen, must report it to the Special Juvenile Police Unit or the local police. Failing to report is itself an offence under the Act. STEMSUP will support anyone making a report and will never discourage or delay one.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will record every concern, make sure the child is safe, report to the police, Childline (1098) or the Child Welfare Committee as required, and inform the Board. Where a concern involves a person working for STEMSUP, that person will be removed from contact with children while the matter is looked into, without assuming guilt.

9. Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Board appoints a Designated Safeguarding Lead who is responsible for this policy, training and handling concerns. Contact: info@stemsupfoundation.org, subject “Safeguarding concern”. Concerns about the Lead can be sent to the same address marked “For the Board”.

10. Partners

Schools, community organisations and other partners working with children alongside STEMSUP must have their own safeguarding arrangements or agree to follow this policy.

11. Confidentiality and records

Safeguarding records are kept securely, shared only with those who need to know to protect the child, and retained as required by law.

12. Training and review

Everyone working with children receives safeguarding training when they join and a refresher every year. The Board reviews this policy at least once a year and after any serious incident.

Last updated: October 2026. We review this policy at least once a year.