Joining Hands to Help Keep Children Safe
How Rotary Intercountry Committees are sharing the MBIMB Programme around the world
Three years ago, Rotarian Nancy Abdelhadi, a valued member of the My Body Is My Body Foundation Board, introduced the MBIMB Programme to Annemarie Mostert, the current ICC President. That meeting marked the beginning of a wonderful partnership. Annemarie has since become a valued member of the MBIMB Foundation Board, helping to strengthen our connection with Rotary and championing child-safety education internationally.
Through the international connections created by Rotary Intercountry Committees, MBIMB has since been introduced to Rotarians and community leaders in South Africa, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, India, the Caribbean and many other countries. This is the true strength of ICCs: bringing people and nations together, sharing knowledge and turning goodwill into meaningful action.
The My Body Is My Body Programme is a free, award-winning, internationally recognised musical body safety programme for children aged 3–12. Through positive songs, animated videos, activities and supporting resources, children learn about body safety, feelings, safe and unsafe behaviour, peer pressure, bullying, secrets, and the importance of asking for help.
Most importantly, children learn that they have the right to feel safe, that they can speak up if something worries them and that they should continue telling trusted adults until someone listens and helps.
The programme is available in 35 languages and has been shared with more than three million children across over 60 countries. Its simple and flexible format allows teachers, parents, social workers, Rotary members, community leaders and others working with children to use the resources within their own communities.
Early childhood education has an important role to play in strengthening child safety. When children are given clear, age-appropriate information from an early age, they are better able to understand their feelings, recognise behaviour that may be unsafe and know where to go for help.
Body-safety education also opens channels of communication between children and the adults who care for them. It helps create an environment in which children feel heard, supported and more confident about speaking up. While education alone cannot prevent every instance of abuse, it is a vital part of a wider safeguarding approach involving informed adults, responsive organisations and protective communities.
The MBIMB Programme can be easily implemented by Rotary clubs using our free, ready-to-use resources and flexible community-based approach. To learn more or explore how your club can become involved, please contact Chrissy Sykes at chrissy@mbimb.org.
ICCs are helping to make this education accessible by introducing MBIMB to Rotary networks, connecting us with trusted community partners and encouraging Rotarians to share the programme in their own countries. Every new introduction can lead to a school becoming involved, a teacher receiving resources, a parent beginning an important conversation or a child learning that it is always right to ask for help.
This partnership demonstrates what can happen when international friendship is transformed into practical action. By working across borders, languages and cultures, ICCs are helping communities unite around a shared belief: every child deserves to feel safe, valued and heard.
When we join hands, share our knowledge and use our connections for good, we can change children’s lives. Together, Rotary ICCs and the My Body Is My Body Foundation are helping to build safer, stronger communities—one conversation, one song and one child at a time.
Rotary Izmir Dokuz Eylül
District 2440, Turkey - Past District Governor
Past Rotary Public Image Coordinator
Turkish Rotary Magazine board member
Active member of the WASH and SRoF fellowships
TRF CADRE
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