Safeguarding Services Children and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding

Why process matters in Safeguarding Training - a facilitator's perspective

Michael Reuben Ntibikema - Emilu Mwangaza, Tanzania

I am the Executive Director, and Safeguarding Consultant and Practitioner of Elimu Mwangaza in Tanzania, a nongovernment organisation that works to advance child protection and safeguarding of children and adults. I have 14 years’ experience as a trainer and consultant and have worked with a wide range of organizations ranging from local to International.

What my experience indicates is that much as the content is important in training, process matters a lot. Working with different organisations that have protected a larger number of children and adults from harm and mistreatment, this has been the best practice to learn from and gain experience.

I have always ensured that I spend most of the time in preparation for training, identify suitable methods, approaches, and tools that empower and give participants voice to raise concerns, and share their lived experience. Across all the organisations I have worked with participants have engaged in the training due to the process of tailoring the courses.

I quote one participant who said that ''I have always felt safeguarding is a big animal like an elephant, but surprisingly the training has lowered my temperature to normal, no more fear. 'This quote might mean that facilitators should invest most of their time in process rather in the actual training alone. Process lays the foundation for delivery of training with high quality. I also quote from other participant who said that ''You have left a footprint in this organisation' 'the participatory training process was amazing.'' I have also found a lot of learning working with different organisations in terms of their safeguarding systems and procedure.