Carin GrundbergSandell awarded for her work on Safe from Harm
Carin Grundberg-Sandell is one of two prizewinners of Children’s Welfare Foundation Sweden’s Grand Prize for2019. She is currently the project manager for Safe from Harm at the Guides and Scouts of Sweden. Carin was one of the key persons supporting World Scouting’s efforts to expand Keeping Scouts Safe From Harm (Child Protection in Scouting) globally during the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden (2011).
Carin has lead the work and development of Safe from Harm in Sweden since the very beginning. Announcing the prize, the board of Children´s Welfare Foundation said: “Through a committed and inspiring leadership, she has created the vision of brave leaders that dare to act to prevent assaults in youth activities and also see the signs when children are in danger in other contexts.”
Safe from Harm is a training programme on child protection aspects and prevention of abuse run for Scout and Guide Leaders by the Guides and Scouts of Sweden since 2005. The aim of the leadership training is to give Leaders the confidence to act early against bullying and assault. From2019 the Safe from Harm education is mandatory for all Leaders in Guides and Scouts of Sweden. Sweden has been one of the pioneer countries in World Scouting to take up the subject proactively since the World Scout Conference passed a Resolution on Keeping Scouts Safe From Harm (Greece, 2002).
Carin was of strong support to World Scouting’s efforts in upscaling Keeping Scouts Safe From Harm at the 22nd World Scout Jamboree that was held at Kristianstad, Sweden in July-August 2011. Building on Swedish and World Scouting’s experiences in the area, an e-learning was launched for all adults supporting the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden. Carin lead the project from Swedish Scouting’s side and helped World Scouting in achieving a huge leap in this area. This e-learning was completed by over 13,000 people in advance of the Jamboree. On 1st August 2011, at the backdrop of the World Scout Jamboree, a 1 day international conference was organized on Keeping Children Safe From Harm with support from the World Childhood Foundation of HM Queen Silvia of Sweden. Carin was part of organising the Conference right from the conceptual stages and offered World Scouting a great collaborative hand before, during and after the event to ensure maximum impact not only on the Scout Movement, but also on all other participating organizations.
The Guides and Scouts of Sweden has now begun to offer their expertise in Safe from Harm to other organisations in Sweden. Together with YWCA/YMCA Sweden and with support from the Swedish Inheritance Fund Commission they are now running a new project in2019. The aim of the project is to involve children and young people more in questions about Safe from Harm, and still focus on the responsibility of adults. The project will, for example, produce films and activities that inspire and give young people the confidence to act in order to protect themselves.
On the occasion of the announcement of the award, Carin humbly remarked, “Adults have the responsibility to act. A lot of people want to act against bullying and assault, but often don’t know how to." The award ceremony will take place at Stockholm Concert Hall on Universal Children's Day, October 7.
World Scouting congratulates Carin Grundberg-Sandell on this achievement and wishes Carin the best in her continued endeavours.