Protection and Safeguarding Guidance

1. Purpose and scope

1.1 This guidance sets out how Lango Expeditions Ltd ("Lango") keeps people safe, what we expect from everyone taking part in our programs, and how anyone can raise a concern.

1.2 It applies directly to:

• Lango staff, guides, drivers, cooks, cultural facilitators and camp staff;
• host families, host communities, schools and local partners working with us;
• visiting students, faculty leaders, teachers and chaperones;
• contractors and suppliers who have contact with our groups.

1.3 It applies at all times during a program, including travel, free time and nights in camp.

2. Definitions

3. Legal and policy framework

3.1 This guidance follows Tanzanian law, including the Law of the Child Act 2009, the Tourism Act 2008 and the Personal Data Protection Act 2022, and by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

3.2 Where a partner institution has its own safeguarding policy, we follow both. Where the two differ, the stricter rule applies.

4. Principles

• 4.1 Safety first: No activity goes ahead if it puts a person at unacceptable risk.
• 4.2 Dignity and respect: Every person is treated with equal dignity and respect.
• 4.3 Consent: Communities decide what they share. People are photographed only with their permission.
• 4.4 Fairness: Host communities are paid a fixed fee under written agreements.
• 4.5 Speak up: Anyone can raise a concern, and no one will be punished for raising one in good faith.

5. Roles and responsibilities

6. Child protection

6.1 Our programs may include visits to schools and contact with children in host communities. We take our duty to these children seriously.

Rules for everyone in contact with children:

• 6.2 Never be alone with a child. Stay in open, visible places with a teacher or Lango staff member present.
• 6.3 Do not photograph or film children without the consent of a parent or guardian and the school, and do not post images of children online.
• 6.4 Do not give money, sweets or gifts directly to children. Donations are made through the school or community leadership.
• 6.5 Do not exchange phone numbers, email addresses or social media contacts with children.
• 6.6 Do not visit a child's home outside the planned program.
• 6.7 Use appropriate language and physical contact at all times. Follow the lead of the teacher or host.
• 6.8 Report any concern about a child's safety to the Lango program leader immediately.

7. Protecting visiting students

Supervision

7.1 A Lango program leader stays with every group throughout the program.

7.2 For participants under 18, at least one accompanying adult from the home institution travels for every eight students.

7.3 A curfew and agreed times for the group to check in are set with the faculty leader.

Accommodation

7.4 Every planned night is spent in an exclusive Lango student camp, prepared for the group alone. We do not plan stays in hotels or lodges, and groups never share their camp with other guests.

7.5 Each camp has clean toilets and showers, safe drinking water, lighting, a first aid point, Lango staff on duty through the night and a night guard.

7.6 Students spend their days with host families but always return to the camp to sleep. There are no homestays.

7.7 Sleeping areas are shared only with members of the same group and the same sex, and are never shared with host adults or staff.

7.8 Host families are selected through community leaders, visited by Lango beforehand, and sign the Lango Code of Conduct.

Alcohol, drugs and conduct

7.9 No alcohol for participants under 18. Adults are expected to drink responsibly and never during community activities.

7.10 Illegal drugs are strictly forbidden. Tanzanian drug laws are severe.

7.11 Participants who seriously breach this guidance may be removed from the program in agreement with their institution.

Personal welfare

7.12 Every participant can speak privately with the Lango program leader or their faculty leader about any concern. Anything that suggests a risk of harm is passed to the Protection Officer.

7.13 Personal matters are handled with discretion and shared only with those who need to know to keep someone safe.

8. Respect for local laws and customs

• 8.1 Tanzania is a welcoming country with strong cultural and religious values. All participants receive a briefing before arrival and on day one.
• 8.2 Participants must follow Tanzanian law at all times.
• 8.3 Public displays of affection are not culturally accepted and should be avoided by everyone.
• 8.4 Modest dress is expected in villages, schools and religious places: shoulders and knees covered.
• 8.5 Always ask before photographing people, homes, ceremonies or government buildings. Photographing police, military sites and airports is strictly prohibited.
• 8.6 Greet elders first and follow the guidance of hosts and Lango facilitators.
• 8.7 Respect the right of any person to say no to a question, a photo or an activity.

9. Protecting host communities

• 9.1 Every host community works with Lango under a written agreement with a fixed hosting fee.
• 9.2 Communities decide which activities and spaces are open to visitors.
• 9.3 Group sizes and visit frequency are limited so that hosting does not disrupt daily life.
• 9.4 Visitors do not hand out money or goods directly. Contributions go through agreed community channels.
• 9.5 Cultural activities are shared by hosts as learning, never staged as entertainment for visitors.

10. Health, safety and emergencies

• 10.1 A written risk assessment is completed for every program and shared with the partner institution before travel.
• 10.2 Guides are trained in first aid, and every vehicle and camp carries a full first aid kit.
• 10.3 Every vehicle is a 4x4 owned by Lango, inspected before each program and driven by an experienced Lango driver.
• 10.4 Open fires, cooking, livestock and farm activities are supervised and briefed before they begin.
• 10.5 A 24 hour emergency line, +255 753 326 489, is available to participants and the home institution throughout the program.
• 10.6 Medical emergencies are referred to established hospitals in Arusha and Moshi, and serious cases are evacuated by air under each participant's travel insurance.
• 10.7 All participants must hold travel insurance with medical and air evacuation cover.
• 10.8 We monitor local conditions and official travel advice and will change or end a program if safety requires it.

11. Photographs and digital media

• 11.1 Photographs and film of any person are taken only with that person's permission, and of children only with the consent of a parent or guardian and the school.
• 11.2 Images used by Lango in its own materials are used only with written consent, and never show a child's name, school or location.
• 11.3 Participants must not post images of children online, and must delete any image if a host asks them to.

12. Safer recruitment and training

• 12.1 All staff are recruited with reference checks and, where available, a police certificate of good conduct.
• 12.2 Every staff member, host family and partner signs the Lango Code of Conduct.
• 12.3 Staff receive protection and safeguarding training before working with student groups, and a refresher every year.
• 12.4 Staff must never enter into any personal or romantic relationship with a participant.

13. Visas and the nature of activities

13.1 Our programs are cultural learning experiences hosted by Tanzanian families, teachers and community members. Participants take part in daily activities as guests and learners. They are not volunteers and do not replace the work of local people.

13.2 Lango confirms the correct entry visa requirements for each group before booking, and any formal research follows Tanzanian research clearance procedures.

14. Reporting and responding to concerns

14.1 If you see, hear or suspect that someone is at risk of harm, or that this guidance has been broken, tell us. You do not need proof.

WHO TO CONTACT

IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU ABOUT HARM

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

14.2 Concerns are treated confidentially. No one will face any negative consequence for raising a concern in good faith.

15. Allegations against staff, hosts and contractors

15.1 Any concern about the conduct of a Lango staff member, host or contractor is reported to the Protection Officer, or to the Director if the concern involves the Protection Officer. If the concern involves the Director, it is reported directly to the partner institution, the Police on 112 or Child Helpline Tanzania on 116.

15.2 The person concerned is removed from contact with participants while the matter is reviewed.

15.3 The partner institution is informed, and the matter is referred to the Tanzanian authorities where the law requires.

16. Records and confidentiality

16.1 Every concern, and the action taken, is recorded in writing.

16.2 Records are stored securely and shared only with those who need to know to keep someone safe, in line with the Personal Data Protection Act 2022.

17. Review and related documents

17.1 This guidance is reviewed every year, and after any serious incident, by the Lango Director and Protection Officer.

17.2 Partner institutions are welcome to request related documents: our program risk assessments, the Lango Code of Conduct and our incident procedures.

18. Acknowledgement