Johansen Kasenene completed his MA in Advanced Child Protection at Kent in 2019. He now works as an Associate Protection Officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iraq
Can you tell us about your work with UNHCR?
UNHCR is the United Nations agency mandated by the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for protecting and finding lasting solutions for persons of concern namely, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and stateless persons.
You’ve been working in the field of child protection for some time. What prompted you to think about studying a Master’s degree in Child Protection?
After I graduated with my first degree, a BA in Sociology, I started my career in youth programming. My first job with the United Nations was in child protection and I wanted to specialise in child protection policies, social research, practices and programming. It was my passion and desire to work with children, particularly marginalised children, that prompted me to study a Master’s degree. I wanted to acquire and improve my skills and knowledge in child protection, be able to protect children with up-to-date child protection policies, techniques and guidelines, and to advance my career.
Can you tell us how you came to the decision to study an MA in Advanced Child Protection at the Centre for Child Protection at the University of Kent?
In 2013 I was searching for a university where I could study an MA in Socio Policy and Research, specialising in Child Protection. I got admission to the International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam to study an MA in Development Studies, majoring in Social Policy and Development, and specialising in Children and Youth Studies. However, I did not get the scholarship and due to family responsibilities, I decided to drop the admission because I could not afford to attend full-time study and take care of my family. I remained determined and focused to study an MA in Child Protection and continued to search for the best universities where I could study the same course.
More importantly, I found out that the University of Kent is among the leading universities in the UK – and worldwide – in research and innovative gaming techniques in the training of child protection professionals. In 2017 I was appointed to work as an international staff with the United Nations Agency which came with a better salary to take care of my family and study. That same year I applied to study at the University of Kent, I was offered a place to study an MA in Advanced Child Protection after going through some technical interviews in child protection and the English language.
Looking back, did your course live up to your expectations?
The Centre for Child Protection (CCP) has experienced lecturers who are passionate about their subjects and dedicated to seeing their students excel in their studies. The lecturers applied a range of innovative techniques in teaching students child protection policies and practices, such as gaming and simulations. My objective was to acquire skills and knowledge of child protection policies, social research, practices and programming which I did. It has added value to my work and helped me in my career in terms of continued professional development. I benefitted from the team of experts at CCP, and enhanced my knowledge in child protection policies, research, innovative child protection practices and drafting and writing skills.
Moreover, after successful completion of the course I have been able to use the skills and experience I gained in my work – enhancing child protection programming, capacity building and building systems to comprehensively put in place prevention and response measures to address children at risk issues – both in my previous duty station in Nigeria and now in Iraq. I am also advocating for child’s rights such as birth certificates and exploring durable solutions to their plight. With government counterparts, the UNHCR protection team, UNHCR partners and refugees, we are working to ensure children attain their rights through building a protective community and integration of refugee children in the national systems. Our aim is to prevent child exploitation, abuse and neglect as part of a strategy to promote the Global Compact on Refugees and sustainable child protection systems in line with the Convention on the Rights of Children (1989).
What were some of the highlights of the course for you?
CCP, which is a part of the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), has a team of experts in the field of child protection experienced in imparting skills and knowledge. The course greatly improved both my knowledge in child protection and professional development.
In what ways has completing this course made a difference to you and your career?
Since completing the course, the office has entrusted me to take more of a lead in child protection programming and capacity building of staff and government officials, as well as in advocating for refugee children’s rights with host governments. The skills and knowledge I acquired has made me competitive among the UN staff regarding available posts that require child protection expertise. Moreover, I am making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people through working with them to protect them from exploitation, abuse and neglect and transforming their lives which pays by bringing a smile to their faces.
What does a typical day in your current role look like for you?
Working with UNHCR requires determination, flexibility and dedication considering that I am working in a humanitarian setting associated with insecurity, limited resources, and vulnerable persons. It’s a highly demanding role in a non-family duty station.
My responsibilities include:
- designing and monitoring the implementation of the UNHCR child protection programme to address the protection needs of children of concern
- enhancing Best Interests Procedures (BIP) for children at risk such as separated children and unaccompanied minors
- developing child protection strategies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), information management and referral systems as well as child protection programming
- strengthening community-based child protection programmes and approaches in collaboration with communities and host governments, while advocating the inclusion of refugee children in the national systems
- strengthening partnerships for child protection with community-based structures, and local, national, and international organisations aimed at ensuring the sustainability of child protection programmes
- strengthening Community Based Protection (CBP) by placing the community at the centre of my interventions while applying Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) and Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) approaches.
- support in building the capacity of government counterparts, child protection partners, refugee-led community organisations, existing child protection national systems on child protection, refugee legal frameworks, CBP, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
Is there anything you learnt during your MA studies that has changed the way you do things in your day-to-day working life?
The MA in Advanced Child Protection course has changed the way I think, analyse, approach and apply policies and practices to address child protection risks. For instance, the knowledge, and research and writing skills I gained has improved my child protection case management, capacity building and project proposal writing. This has greatly advanced the child protection work I do with UNHCR while serving persons of concern.
You wrote a dissertation on ‘Children at Risk of Online Sexual Exploitation: A Systems Theory Focus on Context, Consequences and Interventions within the United Kingdom’ as part of your studies – can you tell us what that experience was like for you?
Considering that I was conducting research and writing the dissertation while combining work and family matters, it was tough but rewarding. For instance, conducting preliminary research, formulating a clearly defined research topic, research methodology, analysing raw data and ensuring good academic language and writing skills were the most difficult part of my dissertation. However, my supervisor Dr Tracee Green dedicated her time to teach and coach me to become good at research. She also ensured that I wrote a good paper, did well and graduated. I am a proud University of Kent alumni!
Have your studies at Kent prompted you to think differently about your career? How do you see your career progressing?
Studying at the University of Kent taught me to think critically, and prepared me to argue well in writing and speaking. My career future is bright with an MA in Advanced Child Protection from CCP, the first centre of its kind in Europe. I have been called to attend competitive interviews for child protection positions within the UN System which is the sign that indeed my MA in Advanced Child Protection is a hot cake and recently I was appointed into a higher position grade in UNHCR. I desire to change the lives of vulnerable children and young people through developing comprehensive interventions and meaningfully engaging them in addressing their issues. My desire has always been to ensure the best interest of the child and find durable solutions to their plight.
What advice do you have for colleagues working in the field of child protection who might be considering a Master’s degree? Would you recommend the course with CCP at Kent?
Yes, I would recommend the course with CCP at Kent. It produces independent brains and child protection experts. The experts in child protection at Kent mirror the world. CCP builds knowledge and training opportunities for professionals working in the area of child protection. The University is in a clean and beautiful environment, and admits students from all various nationalities. The Centre’s dedicated and experienced lecturers do not only instill skills and knowledge, they also use advanced and up-to-date teaching methodologies which are key in developing an understanding of complex child protection risks and interventions.
Learn more about studying an MA in Advanced Child Protection at Kent’s Centre for Child Protection:
- This distance learning programme, which runs on a part-time basis for two or more years, is for experienced professionals
- The programme is fully accredited by the University of Kent and delivered by experts at the Centre for Child Protection
- The programme gives a 360-degree perspective on child protection, introducing you to the viewpoints of academics, practitioners, organisations, parents, children and young people, integrated with contemporary research theory and policy
- The impact that technology has on protecting children, as well as the effect of the globalisation of the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable children, is considered throughout
- Apply now to begin your studies in January 2022