Rome Meeting on Protection of Minors Inspired Tanzania’s Children Radio Program: Official

Through organized trainings, which the Tanzanian Social Welfare Office spearheaded, the children gained knowledge in the various types of abuses and skills in how to prevent and avoid abuses.

“Kids are more likely to listen and follow other kids rather than adults; so we involved a group of kids of different ages who after training will be making radio programs to speak to age mates,” the WF Africa official says in the October 12 report.

The station is an “effective tool to spread information to vulnerable segments of society,” Mr. Taffuri says.

He adds, “The response to the program is quite encouraging; people call to share their testimonies, some revealed that through this program they are learning that some usual practices are abusive towards children, therefore they will change their behavior and ways to deal with kids.”

Set to run for three years, the program has received financial support from Switzerland-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Voce di Maria, which sponsored the training of the children.

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In the October 12 report, Mr. Taffuri appeals for more partners to have the program, which has the blessings of Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Rwa’ichi of Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Archdiocese continued.

Held at the Vatican from February 21-24, 2019, the “Protection of Minors in the Church" meeting was the first of its kind, bringing together the Presidents of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences and those responsible for Religious Orders and Societies of Apostolic Life worldwide.

Besides calling for protection of children in his concluding address, Pope Francis called for “impeccable seriousness” in bringing to justice those involved in the abuse of minors, strengthening and reviewing guidelines by Episcopal Conferences, and accompaniment of those who have been abused.

Pope Francis also called for “genuine purification” involving constantly renewed commitment to the holiness of pastors; a balanced process of formation for suitable candidates to the Priesthood, fostering holiness and the virtue of chastity; awareness of the digital world as an avenue for abuse of minors; and combating sexual tourism.

“I make a heartfelt appeal for an all-out battle against the abuse of minors both sexually and in other areas, on the part of all authorities and individuals, for we are dealing with abominable crimes that must be erased from the face of the earth: this is demanded by all the many victims hidden in families and in the various settings of our societies,” Pope Francis said.