Child Safeguarding Statement

Our Principle

We place the dignity, safety, privacy, and best interests of children before fundraising, publicity, or storytelling. Our public storytelling stays away from sensational language, exploitative imagery, unnecessary personal details, and any story use that could increase stigma, risk, or harm.

Consent And Assent

When child images or stories are used, we seek caregiver consent and child assent where possible. We explain the intended use in plain language, including where the story or image may appear. If consent is withdrawn or a safety concern is raised, we review the content and change it or take it down where appropriate.

Media And Storytelling Standards

• Our public updates focus on group, school, caregiver, outreach, and community moments.
• We do not use a child’s pain, diagnosis, disability, or crisis as a visual tactic to pressure donors.
• We share only necessary identifying details and protect last names, exact addresses, school details, and sensitive medical information.
• We choose captions that explain care and context instead of labeling a child by a hardship.
• We review older stories and images when they are sensitive, outdated, or potentially unsafe.

Reporting Concerns

Anyone may report a concern about child safety, image use, consent, privacy, or website content by emailing stjudeafricacf@gmail.com. Reports are handled with care for privacy and safety. We do not tolerate retaliation against someone who raises a concern in good faith.

How We Respond

When a concern is raised, we review the content or situation, restrict access when necessary, consult people closest to the case where appropriate, and take practical action. This may include updating a caption, removing a photo, anonymizing a story, changing a page, or escalating a safeguarding concern to the appropriate local support or authority.