Green Music Foundation – Child Safeguarding Policy

Last Updated: June 2026

1. Purpose and Scope

The Green Music Foundation is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment for all children and young people participating in our programs. This Safeguarding Policy outlines our proactive approach to protecting children (aged 0–17) from harm, abuse, and exploitation during all our activities, including strings mentorship, conducting workshops, and sustainable instrument composition sessions.

This policy applies to everyone working on behalf of the Green Music Foundation, including the Board of Directors, artistic directors, resident composers, teaching staff, visiting conductors, and volunteers.

2. Our Commitment to Child Protection

We believe that every child, regardless of their socio-economic background, gender, ethnicity, or ability, has the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

The welfare of the child is paramount.
We maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding the abuse, exploitation, or neglect of children.
All staff and volunteers share the responsibility to promote a safe environment and report any concerns regarding a child's welfare immediately.

3. Safe Practice & Code of Conduct in Musical Mentorship

Due to the specific nature of musical instruction, the following strict guidelines are enforced across all Green Music Foundation activities:

Physical Contact in Instrumental Teaching: We recognize that teaching string instruments (violin, viola, cello) and conducting often requires physical posture correction. Staff must always explain the purpose of the physical contact and seek the child’s explicit verbal permission before making any adjustments. Contact must be kept to the absolute minimum necessary for safe and effective technical instruction.
Transparency in 1-on-1 Sessions: While one-to-one mentorship is a core part of our elite training, these sessions must never occur behind closed, unobservable doors. Lessons must take place in rooms with internal windows, or with doors left ajar, ensuring complete visibility.
Safe Workshop Environments: During "Green Music" upcycling and composition workshops, staff must ensure all recycled materials and tools are age-appropriate, sanitized, and safe for handling. Strict supervision ratios will be maintained during all hands-on instrument-making activities.
Professional Boundaries: Staff and visiting artists must maintain strictly professional relationships with all young creatives. Communication regarding schedules and activities must go through parents, guardians, or official foundation channels, never directly to the child's personal devices or social media.

4. Safe Recruitment

The Green Music Foundation rigorously vets all individuals interacting with our youth participants.

All core team members, regular teaching staff, and long-term volunteers are subject to mandatory background checks (including the Sexual Conviction Record Check in Hong Kong or equivalent international checks for visiting artists).
Safeguarding training is mandatory for all staff prior to their commencement of any youth-facing project.

5. Reporting Procedures

If a child makes a disclosure, or if a staff member, parent, or volunteer has any concerns regarding a child's safety or well-being, they must follow these steps:

Listen and Reassure: Listen carefully to the child without asking leading questions. Reassure them that they did the right thing by speaking up.
Report Immediately: Report the concern immediately to the Foundation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Document: Write down exactly what was seen, heard, or disclosed using the child's own words, alongside the date, time, and location.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Name: Tim Chen

Role: Managing Director

Contact: +852 94949119

Email: info@greenmusicfoundation.org

6. Review and Monitoring

The Green Music Foundation is committed to continuously improving our child protection practices. This policy is reviewed annually by the Board of Directors and updated in accordance with the latest child protection legislation and best practices in the arts education sector.