Cyber safety online project for schoolchildren
View(s):
LEADS, Save the Children International, and World Vision Lanka, as non-profit organisations working with vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka, have come together as a consortium to work towards ending online violence and exploitation against children in Sri Lanka. The consortium has joined hands with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to launch an online learning programme to address the importance of cyber-safety among school-going children.
This online learning programme is available free of charge for all students in all three languages.
Due to the swift growth in the use of the internet (post-quarantine) by children around the island, the consortium felt the pressing need to instruct children on how to be safe online. INTERPOL and child protection agencies worldwide have found a rapid increase of online sexual exploitation of children during the global pandemic and the WeProtect Global Alliance warns that the lockdown situation has exacerbated existing drivers of online child sexual exploitation and other types of violence against children online.
The interactive course covers many key areas, giving children a basic understanding of the Internet and its many uses, how to discriminate when sharing personal information, practise caution when sharing images, stand up against cyberbullying; identify phishing scams and other forms of online thefts and how to be responsible cyber-citizens. The course is compiled with animated briefs and real-life scenarios so that students will learn how to be safe on the internet.
The interactive online course is available free of charge to all students on the E-Thaksalawa educational website hosted by the Ministry of Education in English, Sinhala and Tamil. The course is compatible with mobile phones, tablets, and personal computers.
Parents and teachers can contribute towards the safety of children by registering them for this online course.