Safeguarding

Young people deserve to be safe, heard and treated with dignity.

At Twogere, safeguarding is part of how we work. Because we work with young people, schools, families, communities, staff, volunteers and partners, we have a responsibility to prevent harm, protect people from abuse and exploitation, and respond appropriately when concerns arise. Twogere has zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, harassment, neglect or other forms of harm.

Our commitment

We are committed to creating environments where young people and everyone who engages with our work can participate safely and with dignity.

We:

Put the safety and wellbeing of young people at the centre of our work.
Treat everyone with dignity, respect and fairness.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries between staff, volunteers, educators and young people.
Take reasonable steps to prevent abuse, exploitation, harassment and neglect.
Apply appropriate recruitment and background checks for people working with young people.
Provide safeguarding orientation and training to relevant staff, volunteers and partners.
Assess and manage safeguarding risks across the schools and communities where we work.
Handle personal and mental health information carefully and confidentially.
Take safeguarding concerns seriously and respond appropriately.

Young people have a voice

Safeguarding is not only about adults protecting young people. It is also about ensuring that young people understand their rights and have safe ways to speak up. Young people who engage with Twogere have the right to:

Be treated with respect and dignity.
Ask questions about how they are being supported.
Raise a concern about something that does not feel safe.
Be listened to and taken seriously.
Receive appropriate support when they experience or disclose harm.

We do not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a safeguarding concern in good faith.

Professional boundaries

Everyone representing or working with Twogere is expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries. This means:

Not using a position of trust for personal, financial or sexual benefit.
Avoiding inappropriate or secretive relationships with young people.
Using appropriate and transparent communication channels.
Maintaining appropriate physical and emotional boundaries.
Not giving or receiving inappropriate gifts or money from young people.
Ensuring interactions with children and young people take place in appropriate and safe environments.

These expectations apply to Twogere staff, Board members, volunteers, consultants, partners and educators involved in Twogere-supported activities.

Digital safety and privacy

Mental health information can be deeply personal. We take particular care when handling information about young people and their wellbeing. Access to sensitive information is limited to people who have a legitimate reason to access it, and we use appropriate safeguards to protect it. We also take care when using photographs, videos, stories or other information about young people in our communications and publications. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

If you have a safeguarding concern

If you are worried that a young person or another person involved in Twogere's work may be experiencing abuse, exploitation, harassment, neglect or another form of harm, please tell us. You do not need to be certain that harm has occurred before raising a concern.

Report a safeguarding concern

Online: Report a Safeguarding Concern here
Email: safeguarding@twogereug.org
Phone: +256 754 128 149

You may also speak directly to a Twogere Safeguarding Lead or designated safeguarding focal person. You do not have to report through your school, teacher or another person involved in the concern. If the concern involves a Twogere staff member, volunteer, teacher, partner or other representative, you can report directly to Twogere. We will handle concerns sensitively and share information only with those who need to know. Where someone is at serious or immediate risk of harm, or where required by law, we may involve appropriate child-protection, health, safeguarding or law-enforcement authorities.

What happens when you report?

When a safeguarding concern is raised, Twogere will:

Put safety first. We will consider whether anyone is at immediate risk and take appropriate steps to protect them.
Listen and assess. We will listen respectfully, record the relevant information and assess the nature and seriousness of the concern.
Take appropriate action. Depending on the concern, this may include internal safeguarding action, referral to appropriate professionals or engagement with relevant authorities
Protect confidentiality. Information will be shared only where there is a legitimate need to know. Confidentiality may be limited where someone's safety is at risk or disclosure is required by law.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility

Safeguarding is not the responsibility of one person or one department. Everyone who works with or represents Twogere has a responsibility to help create safe environments and speak up when something does not feel right. Our Board provides oversight of safeguarding, while designated safeguarding personnel support implementation across our programmes and partnerships. We expect our partners, schools, educators, volunteers and others working with us to uphold the same commitment.

Our formal Safeguarding Policy

Twogere maintains a formal Safeguarding Policy approved by our Board of Directors. It sets out the detailed responsibilities, procedures and controls that guide safeguarding across our programmes and partnerships.

Last updated: August 2026