Course E045:

Child
Participation





14 May-24 June 2014 (E04514) | Register for this course (opens in new window)
10 September-21 October 2014 (E04514-2) | Register for this course (opens in new
window)
Instructor: Claire O'Kane
This e-learning course introduces staff members of (international) development
agencies and NGOs to meaningful children's participation. Children have participation
rights that State parties and other duty bearers should fulfill, respect and protect in
families, schools, communities, and wider society.
Children's participation is a key principle of a child rights based approach. Children have
rights to express their views and to be heard in all matters affecting them, while
considering their evolving capacities. Providing space and inclusive opportunities for
expression, information sharing, association and participation in decision making
empowers children and young people as active citizens. Meaningful children's
participation leads to the development and implementation of more effective practice
and policies, and increases realisation of children's rights.
The course focuses on children's rights to participate, with a particular focus on ethical
and inclusive practice involving girls and boys of different ages and backgrounds,
especially the most marginalized. Participants will deepen their knowledge, skills,
values and confidence to support meaningful childrens participation processes in
different settings (programming, families, schools, communities, local and national
governance, practice and policy developments). Practical guidance on basic
requirements, approaches and tools to strengthen meaningful childrens participation
will be shared, and participants will be encouraged to reflect on and find solutions to
challenges and ethical concerns faced in their participatory practice.
This certificate course involves approximately 30 hours of reading, discussion,
webinars, a written assignment and quizzes, and is offered over a 6-week period. The
course is based on a participatory, active learning approach, with an emphasis on
critical reflection and peer-to-peer learning. Participants will do the required readings,
prepare interim and final assignments and participate in group discussions. Case
studies will be used to enable interactive learning and activities.
Course outline
Week 1. An introduction to children participation (what, why, who, how)

Week 2. International standards and basic requirements
Week 3. Applying children's participation in each stage of programming
Week 4. Applying children's participation in families, schools and communities.
Week 5. Applying children's participation in local and national governance
Week 6. Monitoring and evaluating children's participation
About the instructor
Claire O'Kane is a qualified social worker with more than 18 years of international
experience as a child rights and children's participation practitioner working in diverse
contexts in Asia, Africa and Europe. She worked with Save the Children for more than a
decade. In addition as a freelance child rights consultant she has worked with
ActionAid, the Children's Environments Research Group, Child Fund International, Plan
International, Save the Children, SOS International, and UNICEF. She is the author of
more than fourty publications (articles, reports, toolkits, ethical guidelines) on child
rights, children's participation, citizenship, peace building, child care and protection.

Course E046:
Child
Protection





5 February-18 March 2014 (E04614) | Register for this course (page opens in new
window)
29 October-9 December 2014 (E04614-2) | Register for this course (page opens in new
window)
Instructors: Peter Dixon and Grace Kelly Hartnett
This e-learning course aims to equip professionals who hold responsibilities for
implementing child safeguarding policies within their organisations with a basic
understanding of the key issues, concepts and frameworks pertaining to child protection
and safeguarding. It will help build the knowledge and skills to enable them to strengthen,
develop and implement protection measures to keep their organisations safe for children.
Participants will start with basics, reflecting on the nature of childhood, exploring the
prevalence of and effects of violence, child abuse and neglect on children and the
framework of rights principles and provisions that shape the safeguarding responsibilities
of agencies who come into contact with children directly or indirectly. Whilst the primary
focus of the course will be on internal child safeguarding practice this will be considered in
the context of wider child protection challenges in organisations' external environments.
The course will conclude by examining the core components of child protection and
safeguarding policies and their application through a range of tools.

The course involves approximately 30 hours of reading, on-line working groups,
interaction with students and instructors, webinars and assignments and is offered over a
6 week period. The course is based on a participatory active learning approach with an
emphasis on personal and professional reflection and peer to peer learning. The
participants are required to work independently by reading and preparing final
assignments and collaboratively by getting involved in group discussions and webinars.
The maximum number of course participants is 25. Students who successfully complete
the course will receive a certificate of completion. It is also possible to be an auditor of
the course.