This policy sets out how the Floor4Africa Programme protects children and other vulnerable people during research, planning, and implementation of the concrete-floor projects in rural and urban-slum schools, clinics, or other properties, incl. family houses. Floor4Africa works only with local construction professionals and local materials. Children are never involved in any project activity. They are kept away from all works during implementation.

Purpose and scope

The policy should apply to all the programme staff, researchers, local project managers, contractors, apprentices, volunteers, partners, and visitors. It covers every stage: field research, site planning, construction, and handover. A child is anyone under 18 years of age.

Core principles

    •    Do no harm.

    •    Best interests of any child.

    •    Zero child labour and zero child participation in construction, materials handling, site preparation, or any other project task.

    •    Children must be physically kept away from active works.

Child exclusion from all works

Floor4Africa never assigns, invites, or allows children to:

    •    mix, carry, or place concrete or anything else

    •    handle tools, materials, or waste

    •    act as helpers, messengers, or volunteering observers on an active site

    •    take part in any “voluntary community contribution” that involves labour

Local project managers and contractors must confirm before works start that no child will be used in any capacity.

Keeping children away during implementation

    •    Construction sites at schools or near homes must have physical barriers and signs.

    •    Access for children is prohibited while works are underway.

    •    Works should be scheduled, as far as practicable, outside school hours, during holidays, or in areas separated from operating classrooms and play spaces. School leadership must be always consulted and must agree the timetable and exclusion measures.

    •    A designated adult (project manager, site supervisor or school staff member) monitors the perimeter so children cannot enter.

    •    If children live on or immediately next to the site, alternative safe space or temporary relocation arrangements must be agreed with families before work begins.

Code of conduct

Everyone this policy relates to ought to:

    •    Treat children with respect and never be alone with a child in a private or unsupervised setting related to the project.

    •    Report immediately any concern that a child is on or near an active worksite or is being asked to help.

    •    Never offer money, gifts, or favours to children in connection with the project.

    •    Follow local child-protection laws in addition to this policy.

Breaches (including allowing a child onto a worksite) can lead to immediate removal from the project and referral to local authorities.

Reporting and response

Any staff member, contractor, community member, or visitor who sees a child on a worksite, while pending works, or has any safeguarding concern related to it, must report it at once to the local project manager.

The programme will:

    •    stop work in the affected area if needed

    •    ensure the child is moved to safety

    •    record the incident

    •    cooperate with local authorities police where required

Contact details for reporting are held by every local project manager and available at each site.

Training and accountability

All local project managers and contractors receive a briefing on this policy before any site work. Safer working practices, appropriate to the local context, are applied to people who will be on site

 This policy is reviewed after each major implementation cycle and whenever national law or programme practice changes. F4A’s public-health and education goals (cleanable floors that i.a. reduce soil-transmitted disease risk and improve learning conditions) are pursued only through adult local labour. Children benefit from the finished floor; they do not take part in creating it.

Last update: September 2026