The Safeguarding Workshop, held on February 26-27, 2025, was successfully conducted with the participation of Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia (YSI), Yayasan Sehati, and Karina KAS as partner organizations of Caritas Germany Indonesia (CGI). This workshop aimed to present the assessment results related to the implementation of Safeguarding policies and the Feedback and Complaint Reporting Mechanism (FCRM). The workshop was facilitated by Kristina Spaar from Caritas Germany.
The event began with an introduction session and a presentation by Kristina Spaar on the importance of Safeguarding in organizations. In her presentation, she emphasized that this program not only aims to raise awareness but also ensures that every organization has a better protection system in place. YSI noted that a systematic approach is necessary to ensure the optimal implementation of this policy within organizations.
During the assessment presentation session from partners such as Karina KAS, Sehati, and SHEEP, Yayasan SHEEP gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for developing protection policies. The discussions provided a platform for exchanging experiences among partner organizations. “We are pleased that this forum offers us the opportunity to strengthen staff protection policies and feedback mechanisms at YSI. The input from our peers has been instrumental in refining our existing system,” said Tri, a representative from SHEEP. The first day of the workshop concluded with a group work session, allowing each partner to explore how the Safeguarding system could be better integrated with feedback mechanisms and staff protection.
On the second day (February 27), the workshop focused on the Feedback and Complaint Reporting Mechanism (FCRM). In this session, Yayasan SHEEP shared its experiences in implementing feedback mechanisms at both institutional and project levels, covering aspects such as building socialization media and providing accessible reporting tools. Beyond sharing experiences, YSI also learned how to create a more inclusive feedback platform for everyone. Wuri, a representative from YSI, emphasized the importance of transparency in handling reports and ensuring the sustainability of this mechanism in the long run. “One crucial aspect of any feedback mechanism is to ensure that received reports are handled transparently and sustainably so that trust in the system remains intact,” she stated.
After the lunch break, the workshop continued with a discussion on safe recruitment as the third pillar of the Safeguarding system. This discussion highlighted how organizations can ensure a recruitment process that not only meets professional standards but also aligns with staff and program participant protection policies. Yayasan SHEEP recognized that stricter, protection-based recruitment policies would become a priority in developing its internal policies.
As a closing activity, participants developed action plans to strengthen Safeguarding policies within their respective organizations. For Yayasan SHEEP, this workshop served as an important momentum to enhance feedback mechanisms and staff protection. “We now have additional references on the strategic steps needed to make YSI's existing mechanisms more accountable,” said Tri in her closing statement.
