Ethics

Peace Flags by Kids, Inc 501(c)(3)
Code Of Ethics
I. Personal and Professional Integrity
All staff, board members, and volunteers of Peace Flags by Kids, Inc. shall act with honesty, integrity and openness in all their dealings as representatives of the Organization. The Organization promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness and integrity.
II. Mission
The Organization has a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved by the board of directors, in pursuit of the public good. All of its programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of the Organization understand and are loyal to that mission and purpose. The mission is responsive to the constituency and communities served by the Organization and of value to the society at large.
In this Code of Ethics the protection and well being of children is our paramount responsibility.

III. Relationships

I. In relation to children, we will:

1. Act in the best interests of all children at all times.

2. Respect the rights of children as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991) and commit to advocating for these rights. www.unicef.org/crc/ www.un.org/rights/dpi1765e.htm

3. Honor children as active citizens participating in different communities: such as their family, children’s organizations, services and schools.

4. Support children in their understanding that they are global citizens with shared responsibilities to the environment and humanity.

5. Respect and support the special relationship between children and their families and incorporate these perspective in our interactions with all children.

6. Create and maintain safe, healthy environments, spaces and places, which enhance children’s learning, development, engagement, initiative, self-worth, dignity and show respect for their contributions.

7. Acknowledge and support the uniqueness and innate potential of each child. Giving honor to their personal expression of their life, their communications and their art.

8. Acknowledge the holistic nature of children’s learning and the significance of children’s cultural and linguistic identities. Work to ensure children are not discriminated against on the basis of gender, age, ability, economic status, family structure, lifestyle, ethnicity, religion, language, culture, or national origin.

9. Honor children’s right to play, as both a process and context for creative self expression and learning.

II. In relation to families, we will:

1. Listen to and learn from families, in order to acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and support them in their role of nurturing children.

2. Assist each family to develop a sense of belonging and inclusion.

3. Develop positive relationships based on mutual trust and open communication.

4. Develop partnerships with families and engage in shared decision making where appropriate.

5. Acknowledge the rights of families to make decisions about their children.

6. Respect the uniqueness of each family and strive to learn about their culture, structure, lifestyle, customs, language, beliefs and kinship systems.

7. Develop shared planning, monitoring and assessment practices for children’s learning and communicate this in ways that families understand.

8. Acknowledge that each family is affected by the community contexts in which they engage.

9. Be sensitive to the vulnerabilities of children and families and respond in ways that empower and maintain the dignity of all children and families.

10. Maintain confidentiality and respect the right of the family to privacy.

III. In relation to communities, we will:

1. Learn about the communities that we work within and create programs which are responsive to those contexts and community priorities.

2. Connect with people, services and agencies within the communities that support children and families.

3. Promote shared aspirations amongst communities in order to enhance children’s dignity, acknowledgment, respect, health and over all well being.