Child Protection

Upon registration and while performing activities, all members and supporters must agree to adhere to the following terms set in place by Free The Children Japan, a specified nonprofit organization.

 

Applicants Under 18

Mutual Protection of Children’s Rights

All applicants under the age of 18 agree to respect and protect the rights of other children and refrain from abuse, exploitation, and all forms of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, age, handicap, or social background. By agreeing, all applicants recognize and respect the importance of children’s rights as held by themselves and their peers.
In the event that you feel you have personally hurt or offended someone, that someone has personally hurt or offended you, or if you feel you have been wrongfully accused of the above, please contact FTCJ’s staff or our private consultation service at any time.

※The email address for our private consultation service will be sent to you upon the completion of your membership registration.

We ask for your consideration and participation in our effort to ensure the personal safety of all children who take part in activities sponsored by FTCJ.
Additionally, please keep in mind the rights of children receiving support through correspondence programs, study tours, and all activities involving on-site visits. Take special care not to infringe upon their rights, and above all, their privacy.
Please make sure to inform FTCJ beforehand if you plan on sharing photos and information acquired from children you are supporting, photos taken on-site, and/or any private information about said children on your personal blog, Twitter, Facebook, or any other forms of social media as there are certain types of photos and information that cannot be shared under any circumstance. When approved to share photos and information, please avoid posting anything that distinctly describes a certain individual or individuals. Failure to comply with these policies and procedures may result in the termination of your membership.

 

Confidentiality Agreement

We ask that you refrain from the release or disclosure of any official documents and/or materials by any means without the consent of FTCJ. This includes original documents and/or copies of said documents that contain the following:

1. Private information regarding FTCJ contained within material currently in use or archived (video data, teaching materials, business plans, etc.)
2. Information disclosing financial records and/or personal affairs.
3. Information that has been specifically deemed confidential by FTCJ that does not fall under the criteria listed above.

Failure to comply with the above stated will result in an immediate investigation by the board of directors and depending on the situation may lead to full compensation of any direct loss to FTCJ.

 

Applicants 18 And Older

Request of Consent Concerning Child Protection

Free The Children Japan, a specified nonprofit organization (hereafter referred to as FTCJ), welcomes members, supporters, and volunteers 18 years of age and older. We ask that you respect the rights of all children while working and enjoying activities together. With that goal in mind, FTCJ has established the following guidelines concerning Child Protection. We ask that you carefully read and agree to the terms listed below.
*All members under the age of 18 will hereafter be referred to as “children”.

 

Protection of Children’s Rights

All applicants above the age of 18 agree to respect and protect the rights of children and refrain from abuse, exploitation, and all forms of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, age, handicap, or social background. By agreeing, all applicants recognize and respect the rights held by all children they may work or come in contact with through activities sponsored by FTCJ. Furthermore, they agree to abstain from any behavior that may cause children physical or mental anguish or put them at a social disadvantage.
When doing work to directly support children living in foreign countries through correspondence programs, study tours, and all activities involving on-site visits they agree to also respect the rights and privacy of said children. Please make sure to inform FTCJ beforehand if you plan on sharing photos and information acquired from children you are supporting, photos taken on-site, and/or any private information about said children on your personal blog, Twitter, Facebook, or any other forms of social media.

 

Confidentiality Agreement

We ask that you refrain from the release or disclosure of any official documents and/or materials by any means without the consent of FTCJ. This includes original documents and/or copies of said documents that contain the following:

1. Private information regarding FTCJ contained within material currently in use or archived (video data, teaching materials, business plans, etc.)
2. Information disclosing financial records and/or personal affairs.
3. Information that has been specifically deemed confidential by FTCJ that does not fall under the criteria listed above.

Failure to comply with the above stated will result in an immediate investigation by the board of directors and depending on the situation may lead to full compensation of any direct loss to FTCJ.

 

Harassment Policy

*Harassment is anything said or done, whether intentional or not, that puts another person, child or adult, in an uncomfortable position. It includes but is not limited to personal attacks to one’s dignity, being made to feel at a disadvantage, and being verbally or physically threatened.
All acts of harassment are strictly forbidden, especially in the case of children!
Among them, the following behavior especially should be avoided without fail.

1. Unnecessary physical contact and/or words and behavior of a sexual nature with any children you come in contact with through participating in activities sponsored by FTCJ.
2. Pursuing and/or maintaining a relationship of a sexual nature with any children you come in contact with through participating in activities sponsored by FTCJ.
3. Calling, texting, chatting, or sending e-mails unrelated with activities sponsored by FTCJ to any children you come in contact with through participating in said activities.
4. Inviting any child or children to get together outside of sponsored activities without prior knowledge and permission by FTCJ.
5. Any and all behavior that can be deemed or interpreted as harassment towards any children you come in contact with through participating in activities sponsored by FTCJ. (Examples include but are not limited to having them take advantage of the elderly, perform tasks against their will, disobey their parents, etc.)

 

Working With Children

Rather than giving children all of the answers, FTCJ thinks that adult supporters should encourage them to come up with answers and solutions on their own. Furthermore, supporters should never think “What can I do?” but “What can we do?” Our approach is to work together from a shared perspective, suggesting ideas and ultimately allowing the children to decide on what needs to be done.
Ideally, children, like adults should be able to “create their own path” and think about what they can do individually or in a group to achieve their goals. We think the following two sentences sum up our way of thinking and serve as a great way to encourage any child.
If you think you know what you want to do, give it a try! Make a plan, test it out, reflect on the results, test it out again and make it happen!
If you’re faced with a challenge or problem when working in a group, discuss it, think about it and explore it to the best of your abilities. Eventually, you’ll find a solution!
When working together with children, remember to keep a mutual understanding between yourselves as you oversee their progress, supporting them in any way possible. However, remember to keep in mind that as the adult it is your responsibility to make sure that whatever is decided on does not go against the law or raise the potential to put anybody in danger.

 

If you have any questions concerning our policies, would like more information about us, or if you would like to report an incident that took place during an activity sponsored by FTCJ, our staff is always here to support you. In most cases our female staff will be the first to reply, however male staff is also available upon request.

Free The Children Japan, A Specified Nonprofit organization (FTCJ)
157-0062 Tokyo, Sedagay-ku, Minami Kurasuma 6-6-5 3f
Tel: 03-6321-8948 / Mail: info@ftcj.org