The Catholic Safeguarding Institute (CSI) based at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines is launching a diploma programme in safeguarding at the Loyola School of Theology (LST) starting August this year.
The Diploma in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults is a non-degree, post-baccalaureate competency training programme adapted with permission from the diploma course taught at the Department of Anthropology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
The course is meant for those who share in the mission of the church and civil society in promoting a culture of safety in communities, ministries, and apostolic missions. It is also designed for designated officers of religious and diocesan clergy, schools, and communities, especially those engaged in setting guidelines and policies for communities.
It will be taught face-to-face and will run for 17 weeks or the equivalent of one semester. Individuals from all parts of the world are welcome to apply. Applicants should hold at least a bachelor’s degree and have the recommendation of ecclesiastical or civil authority.
Throughout the course, students will develop the competencies needed to recognise signs of abuse in victims and of risks in perpetrators; assist and support victims of abuse and secondary victims; reflect on and communicate the spiritual and theological implications of abuse; and engage spirituality in furthering safeguarding goals and measures.
They will also be equipped with the competencies to create safeguarding networks in their regions, countries, local churches, religious communities, and other circles of influence; assist church leaders in appropriately handling allegations; identify the instruments for adequate intervention; adapt and support implementation of context-specific guidelines for safeguarding; and carry out safeguarding formation courses in schools, parishes, and formation houses.
Interested applicants can email Fr James Wenceslao U Gascon SJ, the director of formal education programmes, at csi.diploma@gmail.com or csi.asiapacific@gmail.com for more information.