Our Commitment to Children and Youth

KONE Centennial Foundation (hereinafter referred to as ”KCF”) is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, nurturing, and supportive environment for all children who participate in the programs we support. We are also committed to fair and ethical operational practices.

This Code of Conduct applies to all staff members, volunteers, board members, and partners working with our foundation.

Below the term ”child” is meant to include children and youth; anybody below the age of 21.

Your Agreement and Commitment

We ask that you read this document carefully, reflect on its meaning, and commit to embodying and implementing these principles in your daily practice.

We understand that questions may arise about how to apply these guidelines in specific situations, and we encourage you to seek guidance from your own supervisors or leadership whenever you are uncertain about the right course of action. We also welcome you to contact the KCF staff, if you are unsure of how to interpret this Code of Conduct.

CHILD SAFETY AND WELLBEING - Specific Guidelines for Working with Children

The safety and wellbeing of children is our top priority. In all we do, we are committed to putting it first. By this we mean the following: 

Core Principles

• We never engage in any form of abuse, exploitation, or harassment of children

• We are committed to maintaining appropriate professional boundaries at all times in our interactions with young people, and we strictly prohibit any sexual contact, sexualized behavior, or other kind of conduct that could be perceived as abusive or exploitative.

• We listen carefully to children and young people and take their concerns and opinions seriously

• We recognize that creating a safe environment requires constant vigilance and care from everyone

• We understand our responsibility to report any concerns about child safety immediately to the appropriate person or authority

Physical Contact and Personal Space

• We respect children's personal space and comfort levels

• We recognize that physical contact should always be appropriate, nurturing and clearly in the child's best interest

• To avoid any misunderstandings we make every reasonable effort to avoid being alone with a child in private or isolated spaces

• We never engage in any form of physical punishment, aggressive behavior, or actions that could frighten or intimidate a child.

Communication and Interactions

• We never share inappropriate content, jokes, or materials with or in front of children

• All communication with children should be transparent, professional, and appropriate to their age and maturity

• We are mindful when using private or personal social media contact with program participants. We ensure that consent has been given by a guardian before including a child in a social media post

Photography, Video, and Social Media

• We protect the privacy and dignity of children in all images. In particular, If a child does not want a photo/video to be taken of her/him, such request is to be honored

• We only take photographs or videos of children when a guardian or parent has allowed such photographs or videos. 

Gifts, Favors, and Special Treatment

• We do not give personal gifts to individual children

• We avoid showing favoritism or singling out specific children

• Any rewards or recognition should be transparent and approved by supervisors

Confidentiality and Privacy

• We respect the privacy of children by keeping sensitive information confidential

• We understand that confidentiality has limits when a child's safety is at risk, and we will always prioritize protection over privacy in such cases

FAIR AND ETHICAL PRACTICES

We are committed to fair and ethical operational practices, such as the following:

• We treat everybody participating in our programs with respect and kindness

• We value diversity and embrace different cultures, backgrounds, and abilities

• We use appropriate, respectful language at all times

• We do not discriminate against anyone based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic

• We do not exploit our position for personal gain or advantage such as giving or accepting bribes or improper gifts or providing favors to a relative or a personal acquaintance.

BEHAVIORS THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

We want to be very clear that KCF has zero tolerance for the following behaviors:

• Any form of physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological abuse of children

• Any and all types of exploitation of children for personal and/or financial gain

• Neglect or any action that exposes children to harm or potential danger

• Viewing, possessing, creating, or sharing any inappropriate or exploitative material involving children

• Any illegal activity or behavior that violates laws protecting children

• Ignoring or failing to report suspected abuse or safety concerns

• Bullying, harassment, intimidation, aggression, or any behavior that demeans or hurts  

• Use or being under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or inappropriate substances while working with children

• Being dishonest or stealing, or misusing program or KCF property. 

• Offering or taking bribes

HOW TO REPORT CONCERNS?

If you witness, suspect, or hear about any behavior that concerns you or that may violate this Code of Conduct, we ask that you please take the following steps:

1. Document what you observed, including dates, times, locations, and specific details about what happened

2. Report your concern immediately to KCF and to your direct supervisor or to your designated safeguarding officer

3. If the situation is urgent or involves immediate danger to a child, also contact local child protection authorities without delay

Be assured that KCF takes all reports seriously and will investigate them thoroughly and confidentially, and that we are committed to protecting those who report concerns in good faith from any form of retaliation.

Please remember: It is always better to report a concern that turns out to be nothing than to remain silent about something that could potentially harm a child. Your vigilance and courage in speaking up could make all the difference in a child's life.

Consequences for Violations

We take violations of this Code of Conduct very seriously. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, consequences may include: 

In the event the violation concerns a KCF staff or board member:

• Formal written warning 

• Required additional training and supervision

• Temporary suspension from duties while an investigation is conducted

• Termination of employment

• Reporting to relevant authorities, professional bodies, or law enforcement when appropriate

• Legal action in cases involving serious misconduct or illegal activity

In the event the violation concerns a program supported by KCF:

• Formal written warning 

• Required additional training and supervision of persons involved in the violation

• Temporary suspension of KCF funding while an investigation is conducted

• Termination of KCF funding or volunteer position or partnership 

• Reporting to relevant authorities, professional bodies, or law enforcement when appropriate

• Legal action in cases involving serious misconduct or illegal activity

We want to emphasize that these consequences exist not to create fear, but to underscore our serious commitment to protecting the children we serve. KCF will strive to ensure that no retaliation actions are taken against those who report their concerns and if deemed necessary, the source of the report will remain anonymous.

OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT

This is a living document that reflects our current understanding of best practices in child protection and ethical conduct. We will review and update this Code of Conduct regularly to ensure it continues to serve the best interests of the children and youth we are privileged to serve.

Last reviewed: January 30, 2026