St. John Baptist De La Salle Catholic School is proud to announce the launch of a robust new Safeguarding and Student Protection initiative. Rooted in our faith and our dedication to the well-being of every student, this initiative represents a proactive step in creating a safe, supportive, and respectful environment where physical, emotional, and spiritual growth can truly thrive. 

"Grounded in Catholic values, we are called to embody care, compassion, and justice. We recognize the inherent dignity of every person and are deeply committed to protecting the vulnerable among us. Standing together, we build a community of accountability and truth."

A Global Mission, A Local Commitment

This launch is part of a broader, global Lasallian commitment to child protection. At the direct request of Brother Armin Luistro, Superior General, the Institute has prioritized safeguarding standards across all communities to create a safer environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To bring this global vision to our local campus, Brother Moses Abunya, Auxiliary Visitor and Coordinator for Safeguarding in the Lwanga District, recently conducted an intensive training program for all our teachers and staff. The training focused heavily on risk management, recognizing cultural differences when listening to children, preventing abuse, and responding appropriately to allegations.

As Brother Moses noted regarding the wider district efforts, "The commitment of all is to prevent abuse and to implement the right procedures... being together with other people and experts raises everyone’s awareness and commitment." This sentiment echoes the global Lasallian community's shared responsibility to champion the rights and safety of the students entrusted to our educational mission.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Safeguarding at our school is more than just compliance; it is the active living out of our faith. As such, St. John Baptist De La Salle Catholic School enforces a strict Zero Tolerance Policy for abuse, bullying, harassment, or misconduct of any kind. This applies universally to all staff, volunteers, parents, and students.

Reportable concerns include:

• Bullying: Physical, verbal, or cyber.

• Abuse: Emotional, physical, or sexual.

• Neglect: Failure to provide basic needs or care.

• Misconduct: Inappropriate behavior by staff or students.

• Safety Hazards: Unsafe physical conditions on campus.

A New, Confidential Reporting System

To empower our community, students, teachers, staff, parents, and community members alike, we have introduced a new, highly secure Safeguarding Reporting System.

Privacy & Confidentiality

All reports submitted are handled with the highest degree of sensitivity. Access is exclusively restricted to authorized safeguarding personnel. We deeply respect the right to privacy, and those who wish to speak up can choose to submit their reports completely anonymously by visiting https://www.stjohn.edu.et/safeguarding.

Standing Together

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Intentional false reporting goes against our community values, but we urge anyone with a genuine concern to act responsibly and speak up.