Vision & Core Commitment 

At Mary’s Route, we believe that cultural exploration, pilgrimage, and youth encounters offer young people a transformative space to discover themselves, connect with nature, and build lasting community. Our routes are more than physical trails—they are sanctuaries of personal development, trust, and mutual respect. Protecting our youth is not merely an administrative requirement; it is a fundamental commitment to fostering an environment where every young participant feels safe, valued, and empowered to grow into a resilient and conscious individual. 

Preamble & Fundamental 

Principles Mary’s Route considers the protection of young people to be of paramount importance, fully recognizing that children and youth represent a particularly vulnerable social group. To safeguard their physical, emotional, and digital well-being, we have established this comprehensive Child and Youth Protection Strategy. 
 

• Respect for Rights: Mary’s Route upholds the fundamental respect for and protection of the rights of children and young people as a core organizational value. 
   
• Zero Tolerance Policy: Mary’s Route enforces a strict policy of zero tolerance toward any and all forms of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misconduct.
   
• Data Privacy (GDPR): Mary’s Route fully complies with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines to ensure the personal data security, image rights, and privacy of all minor participants. 

Safeguarding & Conduct at Events 

• Strict Alcohol Prohibition: Alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited for children and youth at all Mary’s Route programs, events, and pilgrimages. 
• Dedicated Adult Chaperones: Minor participants at Mary’s Route events are supported by designated adult chaperones who assist them with transportation, logistics, and navigating or avoiding hazardous and emergency situations. 
   Collaborative Community Norms: At the beginning of each event, leaders hold discussions with young participants regarding community norms and guidelines. These norms are adapted, expanded, and applied in active collaboration with the youth, incorporating their own suggestions. 
•  Age-Appropriate Programming: During our events, we continuously strive to organize thematic and developmental activities specifically tailored to the age and maturity level of young participants. 

Digital & Environmental Awareness 

• Online Safety & Cybercrime Awareness: Mary’s Route actively raises awareness among young people regarding the dangers of digital spaces, including online harassment, cyberbullying, and internet-based crime. 
• Environmental Stewardship: During our programs, we draw attention to the protection of our natural environment by leading by example. In practice, this includes selective waste sorting and ensuring that all garbage generated during hikes is carried to designated disposal locations.

Implementation, Monitoring, and Institutional Partnerships 

• Youth Working Group Oversight: Mary’s Route operates a dedicated Youth Working Group that continuously monitors and evaluates events to ensure ongoing compliance with our safeguarding standards. 
• Expert Partnership with the St. Francis Foundation: A key role in the implementation of the Mary’s Route Child and Youth Protection Strategy is held by network member St. Francis Foundation (Szent Ferenc Alapítvány). The St. Francis Foundation is an official, professional child protection organization with nearly 30 years of specialized experience in the field. 

Shaping a Safe and Conscious Tomorrow 

By placing youth protection and ethical responsibility at the heart of our mission, Mary’s Route actively shapes a safer future for European heritage tourism. We strive to nurture a generation of empathetic, active, and environmentally conscious European citizens who carry forward the values of solidarity, human dignity, and mutual respect across borders. Through vigilant care, continuous learning, and unwavering dedication, we ensure that every journey along Mary’s Route remains a beacon of safety, inspiration, and hope.