NGOs launch safeguarding programme for child domestic workers

Slum2School Africa has partnered with The Freedom Fund to launch a child safeguarding initiative aimed at protecting and empowering child domestic workers in underserved communities across Lagos State.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the two organisations, the initiative, supported through a funding gift from the United States Department of State, seeks to combine access to education with structured child protection systems in slum, riverine, and informal settlements where many children are vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Speaking on the project, Senior Partnership Manager at Slum2School Africa, Hauwa Yahaya, said the intervention was designed to ensure that education and child protection work together.

“For many of these children, access to education alone is not enough. This partnership ensures that education and protection go hand in hand.

We are building systems that not only support learning but also actively safeguard children’s well-being,” Yahaya said.

According to the organisation, the initiative integrated safeguarding frameworks into education programmes to ensure vulnerable children are not only enrolled in school but also supported through psychosocial care, structured protection systems, and community-based monitoring mechanisms.

The organisation stated that the programme includes structured reporting systems that provide safe channels for children, caregivers, and teachers to report abuse or welfare concerns.

It also establishes safe learning spaces where trained staff monitor the welfare and attendance of enrolled children.

Speaking further, Yahaya said the organisation was focused on creating long-term systems that would protect vulnerable children beyond school enrollment.

“Our partnership with The Freedom Fund, with a funding gift from the U.S. Department of State, ensures that education and child protection go hand in hand.

“We are not just returning child domestic workers to school and skills acquisition programs; we are creating systems that protect them, nurture them, and empower communities to safeguard their future,” she said.

As part of the intervention, stakeholders, including officials of Local Government Education Authorities, school administrators, community leaders, and child protection advocates, have been engaged through training sessions and strategic meetings across Lagos communities.

Slum2School Africa said the partnership represents a scalable model that aligns education initiatives with child protection systems and could be replicated in other high-risk communities across Nigeria.

The organisation noted that for more than a decade, it has worked to expand access to education for children living in underserved communities through innovative learning programmes, digital solutions, and community partnerships.

The Freedom Fund, on its part, said it remains committed to working with frontline organisations to address the root causes of exploitation and modern slavery while creating sustainable pathways to freedom for vulnerable populations.