“I realised that all school personnel have the same responsibility to protect children and that it’s not only the role of a social worker”, said a social worker of the Office of Resource Officers of Educational Institutions (ORO), during the Training of Trainers on School Safeguarding and Child Protection in Georgia.

The interactive training sessions brought together ORO resource officers and social workers from across the country, strengthening their capacities in keeping children safe in schools.

Through interactive sessions, practical exercises and scenario-based learning, participants enhanced their skills in recognising indicators of abuse, responding appropriately to disclosures from children, applying trauma-informed approaches, and implementing established reporting and referral procedures. The training also reinforced the importance of a whole-school safeguarding approach, highlighting the shared responsibility of all school personnel in ensuring child protection.

The training contributed to measurable improvements in participants’ knowledge and confidence. Evaluation results indicated a significant increase in understanding of child protection principles, with average assessment scores rising to over 94%, alongside a marked increase in participants’ self-reported confidence in addressing safeguarding concerns.

By equipping professionals across Georgia with practical skills, greater confidence and a shared understanding of safeguarding, the initiative contributes to creating safer school environments where children are more likely to be heard, protected and supported.

The activity was carried out within the Council of Europe Project “Combating Violence against Children in Georgia” implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024–2027.