Last semester, the Faculty of Theology and the Faculty for Social Wellbeing celebrated the first cohort of students who successfully completed the Certificate in Safeguarding of Children and Young People. The inaugural Awards Ceremony was held on the 29 October 2021 at the Aula Magna, Valletta Campus.
The deputy deans of the two faculties, Rev. Dr Paul Sciberras and Dr Claire Azzopardi Lane, addressed the event and presented the certificates to the graduates. Ms Felicienne Caruana Fenech gave an Oration on behalf of her peers and Mr Andrew Azzopardi from the Safeguarding Commission delivered a keynote address on meaningful and ethical children's participation. The evening was enriched by musical interludes by Ms Fiona Cauchi and Mr Andrew Fiorini Lowell. Rev. Dr Kevin Schembri organised the event with the assistance of Mr James Bonnici and Ms Christabel Cassar from the Office of the Faculty of Theology.
The Certificate in Safeguarding of Children and Young People is a one-year inter-faculty course of the Faculty of Theology and the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, offered in collaboration with the Department of Civil Law and the Safeguarding Commission. It aims to introduce participants to the main concepts pertaining to the safeguarding of minors, and to equip them with the basic knowledge and skills which would help them to promote the welfare of minors, to recognise and to respond effectively to abuse, and understand the effects of trauma caused by said abuse. The programme presents students with key principles relating to self-care and fundamental ethical and legal obligations for working with minors in various settings.
More details regarding the course can be accessed through this link.
