About Safe in Town
Safe in Town supports the development and implementation of comprehensive, city-level child safeguarding policies. The initiative promotes innovative policies, procedures and practices, including child- and gender-sensitive referral mechanisms and evidence-based strategies.
By strengthening local capacities and fostering a strong culture of safeguarding, Safe in Town aims to reduce risks, enhance protection systems and empower children to thrive safely within their communities.
Project Locations and Partners
The project is implemented across four countries — Italy, Greece, Portugal and Cyprus — through partnerships between local organisations and their respective municipalities:
- Defence for Children International – Italy with the Municipality of Genova – Italy
- Defence for Children International – Greece with the Municipality of Chania – Greece
- CESIS with the Municipality of Matosinhos – Portugal
- Hope For Children with the Municipality of Strovolos – Cyprus
Project partners include Defence for Children International and Keeping Children Safe. Safe in Town is co-funded by the European Union.
The Approach
Safe in Town begins with mapping and assessing existing local systems, identifying gaps, and developing child safeguarding policies tailored to each local context.
The project then focuses on training and capacity-building for local professionals and institutions, while establishing coordinated procedures for inter-agency cooperation and child-friendly referral mechanisms.
Throughout the process, monitoring and evaluation activities help ensure accountability, strengthen coordination among stakeholders, and support continuous learning and improvement.
Safe in Town runs from April 2025 to March 2027.
Meaningful Child Participation
Children are actively involved in Safe in Town from the earliest stages of the project through Child Advisory Boards. They contribute to the design and implementation of activities, provide feedback, and are supported in understanding the child protection mechanisms available through the programme.
“I like that in this project we can say what we really think and adults actually listen to us. It makes me feel like children my age can be heard and not ignored.”
— Member of the Child Advisory Board in Strovolos, Cyprus
Sharing Knowledge Across Communities
Developed within the Safe in Town project, the e-learning platform connects experiences and practices from Genova, Chania, Matosinhos and Strovolos.
Designed for professionals working with and for children, the platform provides a dynamic learning space to strengthen knowledge, skills, and practices in child safeguarding across Europe.
The platform is currently available in English and will soon be adapted into Italian, Greek, and Portuguese, incorporating national systems, legislation, and local practices.
