Communication
- Staff and volunteers hired to work with children and young people shall be qualified to do so.
- The welfare of children and young people shall always be promoted, guided by their best interests.
- Healthy, constructive, high-quality and safe work with children and young people shall be promoted.
- Staff and volunteers are role models for participants and shall show good behaviour and set a good example both at work and outside it.
- All use of tobacco, nicotine products, alcohol or other addictive substances and drugs is prohibited when working with children and young people.
- Staff and volunteers shall strive for good communication with colleagues and participants’ guardians.
- Staff and volunteers shall be careful and conscientious and treat everyone they work with or for with care, honesty and respect. It shall be borne in mind that words and actions must be appropriate to the work, environment, place and time.
- Staff and volunteers shall not discriminate against children and young people on the basis of nationality, origin, race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, gender expression, age, religion, disability, economic status, descent or other status.
- Staff and volunteers shall observe the strictest confidentiality and discretion about everything they learn in their work that should be treated as confidential. However, the duty of confidentiality never applies when staff or volunteers become aware that a child is living in unacceptable conditions, is being harassed or subjected to any kind of violence, or is seriously endangering their health and development. In such cases, the provisions of Chapter IV of the Child Protection Act No. 80/2002 shall be followed.
- The health or safety of participants shall never be put at risk. The utmost care and caution shall always be shown at work, and children and young people shall be prevented from ending up in situations they cannot handle.
- Bullying and violence are never tolerated. Staff and volunteers shall prevent and eradicate all forms of violence, such as mental, physical, digital and/or sexual violence.
- It shall be borne in mind that individuals’ boundaries differ and must be respected. Any kind of touching that could lead to misunderstanding in dealings with children, young people and colleagues shall be avoided.
- Staff and volunteers shall care for participants with dedication at work but keep a professional distance outside events and avoid close relationships. Staff and volunteers shall never initiate contact with participants unless it is related to the child’s or young person’s participation in the activities. Staff and volunteers shall be responsible in electronic communication and internet use. There shall be no electronic communication with participants under 18 without the knowledge of their guardians, and only in connection with their participation in the organisation’s activities. All communication shall take place through approved channels.
- Staff, board members, volunteers or others in positions of power must be aware of their responsibility and the power imbalance their position creates.
- Staff and volunteers shall not abuse their position in any way, whether physically, mentally or sexually, in their dealings with participants or colleagues.
- Any kind of sexual flirting, language or relations by a person in a position of responsibility towards a participant under 18 is strictly prohibited.
- Sexual flirting, language or relationships with adult participants, colleagues or others over whom those in charge hold a position of power shall be avoided.
- Staff and volunteers shall avoid being alone with a participant.
- When photographs are taken of children and young people as participants in activities, their privacy and right to private life shall be respected. Inappropriate photos of children and young people shall never be taken or published. Photos of participants taken by staff and volunteers shall never be used for private purposes.
Operations and responsibility
- Staff or volunteers hired to work with children and young people shall be qualified to do so. The consent of those about to start work shall always be sought to obtain information from the criminal record.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall perform their duties with diligence, conscientiousness, loyalty and honesty, as well as with objectivity and fairness.
- All work shall be carried out in the interests of the organisation, and its goals and reputation shall be protected. Board members, staff and volunteers shall show the organisation, colleagues, partners and participants respect, fairness and confidentiality in their dealings.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall treat everyone they work with or for with respect, and no one shall be discriminated against on the basis of nationality, origin, race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, gender expression, age, religion, disability, economic status, descent or other status.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall strive to create a positive culture at work. Moderation and fairness shall be shown in comments about each other or others, for example by not taking part in gossip or spreading slander. Sexual harassment, bullying or other violence is not tolerated.
- The health or safety of staff and volunteers shall never be put at risk. The utmost care and caution shall always be shown at work, and staff and volunteers shall not be given tasks or put in situations they cannot handle.
- All work shall be carried out in an open, informed, transparent and democratic way. Professional and correct information shall always be provided.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall never abuse their position towards partners or participants in any way for their own advancement or benefit. If there is a risk of a conflict of interest, they shall disclose all possible personal interests that may affect their work. The managing director and the board assess whether there is a conflict of interest.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall take care not to be on both sides of the table in matters concerning the organisation’s interests. Situations that may call their impartiality into question shall be avoided. This applies, among other things, when the organisation nominates individuals to take part in sought-after projects or when contracts are made with staff, contractors or other service providers.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall avoid taking on tasks or jobs that are incompatible with or contrary to their duties or work and are likely to call their impartiality into question. In case of doubt, the approval of the managing director or the board shall be sought.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall never accept or receive gifts whose value exceeds what can be considered reasonable.
- When hiring, care shall be taken not to abuse one’s position to hire relatives or close associates. If such a situation arises, the employee concerned shall refer the hiring to a superior or another qualified employee.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall observe the strictest confidentiality and discretion about everything they learn in their work that should be treated as confidential. However, the duty of confidentiality never applies when the provisions of Chapter IV of the Child Protection Act No. 80/2002 apply.
- Board members, staff and volunteers may not use confidential information obtained through their work for their own advancement or benefit.
- Board members, staff and volunteers shall always take good care of the organisation’s funds and other assets entrusted to them or at their disposal through their work. When disposing of them, the organisation’s interests shall be the guiding principle. The organisation may never be committed beyond what has been approved. Funds and property shall never be used except for the benefit of the organisation or projects consistent with its policy.
- Information about income and its use shall be presented simply and clearly and shall be accessible to members. All transactions shall be recorded appropriately and be auditable.
- Grants shall never be obtained unlawfully or through deception.
- Anyone dealing with the media shall show honesty and transparency without disclosing confidential information. Emphasis is placed on providing correct and as accurate information as possible. No more shall be claimed than knowledge justifies at any given time; it shall be acknowledged when knowledge is limited, and further information obtained or enquiries referred elsewhere.