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Staff from Marthandam Integrated Development Society (MIDS) participated in the Caritas Asia Regional Safeguarding Webinar on Safe Recruitment held on 12 March 2026 from 1:30 PM to 3:45 PM. The webinar brought together safeguarding representatives and staff from various Caritas organizations across Asia to strengthen understanding of safe recruitment practices and their role in protecting vulnerable communities. The session began with an opening prayer led by Bass Karo, creating a reflective start to the program. Mr. Jubili Anilik, Safeguarding Committee Member from Caritas Malaysia, introduced the session and emphasized the importance of safe recruitment in safeguarding. He highlighted that recruitment processes must ensure that organizations select individuals who respect the dignity and safety of the communities they serve. Mrs. Juliana Foo from Caritas Malaysia explained that safe recruitment is preventive in nature and should not be viewed as an act of mistrust, but rather as a responsible and ethical approach to protecting vulnerable people. She emphasized that safeguarding is a fundamental obligation for all Caritas organizations globally and must be integrated into every aspect of organizational functioning, including recruitment, staff training, programme implementation, and monitoring. The webinar highlighted several important elements of safeguarding systems within organizations: • Safe Recruitment: Vetting of staff and volunteers through background and reference checks. • Ethics and Code of Conduct: Establishing clear standards of expected behavior. • Risk Management: Conducting programme risk assessments and implementing preventive safeguards. • Complaints and Reporting Mechanisms: Creating safe reporting channels and protecting whistleblowers. • Data Protection: Ensuring confidentiality of victims and secure handling of safeguarding cases. The session also discussed the different individuals who may enter Caritas organizations, including employees, volunteers, consultants, partners, and interns, all of whom must comply with safeguarding policies. Mrs. Sunita Ashwin from Caritas India shared practical safeguarding measures adopted during recruitment. She described recruitment as the first safeguarding gate, as individuals recruited into the organization are often entrusted with direct access to children, women, and vulnerable communities. Therefore, safeguarding clauses should be included in job advertisements, behavior-based questions should be used in interviews, and candidates should undergo reference checks that focus on conduct and behavior. Candidates are also required to declare any history of misconduct and sign a Code of Conduct. She further explained the importance of safeguarding-focused reference checks, which help prevent the rehiring of individuals with a history of abuse or misconduct and ensure that organizations maintain accountability and trust. Another important practice highlighted was the affidavit mechanism used by Caritas India, where newly recruited staff submit a signed declaration confirming that they have no criminal convictions, pending criminal cases, involvement in misconduct investigations, or cases under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. Staff also provide consent for the organization to verify the information and acknowledge that any misrepresentation may result in termination. Mrs. Dini and Mrs. Ausi Indresh shared experiences from Caritas Indonesia, emphasizing the importance of safe recruitment during disaster response. They explained that although emergency situations require rapid mobilization of personnel, affected communities are highly vulnerable, and recruitment mistakes can create serious safeguarding risks. Therefore, Caritas Indonesia ensures that safeguarding standards are maintained even during emergencies. They noted that diocesan staff and parish volunteers require recommendations from the Bishop and Parish Priest, while professional health volunteers must obtain recommendations from their respective institutions. Background verification, reference checks, and self-declarations remain essential requirements even during emergency recruitment. The webinar concluded with a strong message that safe recruitment is a critical foundation for safeguarding, ensuring that humanitarian organizations uphold accountability, integrity, and protection for the vulnerable communities they serve. Participation in such regional learning platforms strengthens MIDS’ commitment to safeguarding and supports our mission to create safe and respectful environments in all programmes and community engagements.

A special consultation programme brought together our Bishop, 40+ priests, and MIDS staff to reflect on our shared social mission. Together, we discussed how parishes and MIDS can better serve the poor with compassion and action. A step forward in strengthening our commitment to justice, care, and community upliftment.

Goat Rearing for Progress is an income-generation initiative dedicated to strengthening the livelihoods of economically disadvantaged families in the Diocese of Marthandam. Through this humanitarian programme, 27 widows and abandoned women have been identified and supported with training, livestock assistance, and continuous capacity-building guidance. The initiative aims to empower vulnerable women to achieve financial independence, rebuild dignity, and lead a stable and fulfilling life. By promoting sustainable rural livelihoods, the programme contributes to long-term socio-economic resilience and uplifts families toward a future of self-reliance and hope.

MIDS Social Security Day MIDS observed Social Security Day with a comprehensive awareness initiative focused on promoting safe and ethical digital practices among MIDS staff members.The session addressed the growing risks associated with internet misuse and digital exploitation, emphasizing proactive safety measures to ensure a secure online environment for all. Key topics covered included: Responsible and safe use of smartphones, computers, and internet services Identifying and preventing online fraud, cyber threats, and phishing scams Safe handling of passwords, OTPs, banking information, and personal data Dangers of unsafe public Wi-Fi networks and unverified applications Protection against cyber addiction, inappropriate digital content, and predatory online platforms, including illegal gaming and harmful adult websites. The program highlighted the importance of digital literacy for social well-being, especially for vulnerable groups such as youth and digitally-new users. Through interactive discussions and real-life case examples, MIDS staff gained practical knowledge to safeguard themselves and their families in an increasingly technology-driven world.

MIDS participated in the regional webinar called “Breaking the Cycle – Voices from the Field to Integrate Family Strengthening Principles to Practice.” on 9/9/2025. The session highlighted best practices and lived experiences from the Western and Central regions of India, with a strong focus on the role of families and communities in preventing child–family separation. Participants had the opportunity to learn about innovative family strengthening practices, the challenges faced by communities, and the critical gaps that need to be addressed to ensure children grow in safe and nurturing environments. One of the best practices presented was the work of the Family Service Centre (FSC) in Mumbai, a civil society organization established in 1955. FSC has pioneered alternative family care and community outreach programs, supporting families through adoption, educational sponsorship, temporary family care, counseling, and empowerment initiatives. Each year, their educational sponsorship program reaches over 450 children and families, while the temporary family care initiative, supported by the Maharashtra State Government, provides an alternative to institutional care for children in crisis. In addition, their community interventions focus on education, health, livelihood, and capacity building for children, women, and youth, helping families to build resilience and stability. Another significant model discussed was the Safe City Program in Bhopal, a UNICEF-supported initiative implemented with local partners to strengthen child protection networks at the ward level, build local mechanisms, and enhance children’s agency. This program follows a people-centric approach, offering flexible responses to vulnerable communities such as Vimukta tribes, urban Adivasi groups, and children of single or no parents. The discussions also shed light on common challenges, including lack of awareness among families, complex family dynamics such as addiction and instability, frequent migration, documentation barriers, coordination gaps between NGOs and government bodies, and shortage of trained social workers. While laws in India prioritize family-based care, translating this into ground-level practice requires time, trust, and significant resources. The way forward identified during the webinar included regular community sensitization sessions, stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration, holistic models that integrate psychosocial, legal, financial, health, and educational support, and continuous capacity building of frontline workers. Overall, the webinar was a powerful reminder that each child deserves to grow up in a family environment. Families and communities, even when fragile, can become resilient when supported with the right interventions. The learnings encourage us to look beyond institutional solutions and instead focus on empowering families as the true foundation of child protection and holistic development.

On July 30, 2025, to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, six of our MIDS team members including our Director Rev. Fr. Jerome C. participated in a powerful and eye-opening webinar organized by Caritas India titled “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” Over 90 participants from around the world joined this session, making it a truly global dialogue on one of the most pressing challenges. The session focused on how disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and pandemics often create the perfect environment for trafficking networks to exploit vulnerable populations. It was highlighted that during these times, when families are displaced, institutions are weakened, and law enforcement is diverted, traffickers prey on the most vulnerable especially children, women, migrants, and economically poor families. The speakers presented real examples, such as the Nepal Earthquake in 2015 and Cyclone Amphan in 2020, to show the rise in trafficking incidents following major disasters. The session also covered key indicators of trafficking, such as lack of access to personal documents, visible signs of abuse, and restricted communication. Participants learned about the importance of including anti-trafficking measures in disaster response plans, setting up safe spaces, training frontline workers, creating multilingual helplines, and promoting women’s livelihoods to reduce vulnerability. NGOs were recognized as having a critical role in prevention and protection, especially in creating child-friendly spaces and supporting survivors. The session also touched on emerging trends like online trafficking, fake skill training centers, and exploitation through IVF and egg donation scams. It further addressed the real challenges in rescue and rehabilitation, such as delayed FIRs, family pressure, poor shelter facilities, and lengthy legal procedures. The webinar concluded with a strong call for collaborative action to protect migrants’ rights, embed anti-trafficking systems into disaster response, and ensure survivors receive ongoing mental health, legal, and economic support. This learning experience has significantly strengthened MIDS to advocate for justice, safety, and dignity for all, especially the most vulnerable among us.