Online Risks Education and

Cultural Barriers A Case Study: Keeping Children Safe Online Initiative in West

Ramallah Area Development Program (Kharbatha Bani Harith

Village),

World Vision- Jerusalem, West Bank- Gaza JWG

World Vision

International

World Vision

International Jerusalem West Bank

Gaza • 11,700 girls and boys are

sponsored. Poorest of the

Poor.

• Vocational training in

sewing, embroidery,

knitting, cosmetics,

hairdressing, computer

literacy and graphic

design.

• Improving the well-being

of children and their

families in the West Bank

& Gaza through school

renovations, adequate

school supplies, road

construction, and other

inventions.

World Vision International

JWG Ramallah Area Development

• 8 villages in West Ramallah.

• Development programs, project extended to 2022.

• A system of steering committees to assess the needs and plan relevant programs (village committee and children committee).

• Success in enhancing education development in terms of quality and infrastructure.

Keeping Children Safe

Online

KCSO in JWG

Children in oPt@ONLINE... Survey by Hadara (still in progress)

• Target age of survey: 7- 10 years old 53% of which are 9 years old, 90% have internet at home.

• 35% use the internet for gaming, 6% for chatting and social networking and 15% for research. 43% use for all reasons listed before.

• 64% said they get inappropriate material including pornography whenever they try to access a chatting or a social networking website.

• 50% spend more than 4 hours/ day searching the net for games, songs and movies.

• 56% share their private information with anyone online. 64% of which are 8 years old.

Cyber-crimes

are increasing,

number

not known

Unemployment

is one of

the reasons PA is establishing a cyber- police unit

and draft law for cyber crimes

Internet is the WAY OUT Many children in the West Bank and Gaza do not have

access to a

simple playground to play in. The internet serves as the way

out to have fun.

For example: Children make up 54.2% of the population

(UNICEF).

• In Gaza 70% of children are registered refugees

(UNICEF). In the West Bank the figure is around 30%

(UNRWA).

• Most refugee children live in over crowded registered

camps. Streets are usually alleyways and there is a

severe lack of space for children to play. Open sewers run

through some camps. Access to electricity and other

municipal services is also extremely limited.

Internet is the WAY OUT continues

World Vision JWG has been focusing

efforts on providing safe playgrounds

for children in the WB and Gaza. It is

one of the top three priority projects.

Keeping Children Safe Online

KCSO/ oPt (Targets)

• June 2011

• Currently piloted in Kharbatha Bani Harith, WR. High percentages of young users. Second Year: South & West Jenin and South Salfeet. Third Year: Central Nablus & Bethlehem.

• TO provide children and their caregivers with skills to better protect themselves and others from abuse and sexual exploitation when using the internet and other media technologies.

• TO create a complaints mechanism online where incidents concerning child pornography, trafficking, racism, fraud and online protection in general are reported.

Keeping Children Safe Online

KCSO/ oPt (PT) Project Team

• World Vision

• the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs;

• the Palestinian Ministry of Education;

• the Palestinian High Judicial Council;

• the Family Protection Unit of the Palestinian Police;

• Save the Children UK (Palestine Office);

• Defense for Children International (Palestine Office);

• Palestinian Telecommunication Group “PALTEL”

KCSO/ oPt

(Progress) Tools

• Posters for both target groups of children (-/+ 13);

• Brochures for parents & children;

• Interactive CD for children;

• Training manual for WV staff.

Trainings

• TOT for caregivers, children and project team & WVI staff.

• Training for Children (-/+ 13).

• Training for Parents.

• Training for Teacher.

Quick Outline of Children Trainings

Internet- Good’s & Benefits

Potential Risks • Messaging with inappropriate

content;

• Exposure to child pornography, sexually explicit and inappropriate pictures and materials;

• Dissemination of files containing personal information, which are used to perform illegal actions and violation of privacy;

• Pedophiles using the internet to meet young people.

Places where Children Most at Risk

• Chat Rooms and Instant Messenger

• Social networking, Blogs and Forums

• Mobile Phones

• Gaming

Tools & TIPS how to surf the

internet safely

• Practical tools on how to

protect our selves online.

• Tips for what to do when

something not safe

happens.

Teachers Training…What Can

You DO? Give Tips… Content is

customized to target group

Internet Evolution Encourage Internet and computer-

illiterate Parents to surf the

internet, and give appropriate tips

Partnership with

Hadara, the largest internet

provider in the oPt… $15,000 Safer Internet Day… first time

in the

oPt: A national media campaign was planned to highlight the importance of the issue and inspire other key members to work.

www.facebook.com/KCSOps

Awareness Cartoon, Newspaper

Ads and Radio Messages in Arabic

In school events at Kharbatha Bani Harith

KCSO/ oPt (Complaints

Mechanism)

In Progress

• Sustainable;

• Efficient;

• Functional;

• Confidential;

• Outreach.

Available Options

• Ministry of Social Affairs Network of Child Protection Orgs.

• Sawa Helpline.

Challenges

Internet & Computer Illiteracy… Parents &

sometimes Teachers

Materials were made simpler to target the

clear majority of Kharbatha Bani Harith

population of parents and teachers who

are internet and computer-illiterate,

followed by a training on possible risks

online with tips on protection.

Urgency of the Issue

• The concept of keeping children safe

online is new and plans were jointly made

by WV and other project team members,

as appropriate.

• The issue is not perceived as urgent

compared to other risks facing children in

the oPt.

ACCESS Due to checkpoints and the

Separation

Wall/ Barrier prohibiting Palestinians

from accessing other Palestinian territory

we face difficulties reaching out to certain

villages especially those of Gaza Strip.

Good News:

Almost 90% of our Facebook page subscribers are residence of Gaza Strip.

Conservative Community

The local community of Kharbatha Bani Harith is

conservative;

therefore, some materials discussing sexual

content on the internet

may seem inappropriate in a culture where such

topics are rarely

discussed in public.

High Risks vrs. Traditions…

• No integration of sexual education in school

curriculum

• No specific school curriculum on sexual

abuse.

• Negative attitudes from teachers, students

and children towards education on sexual

abuse.

Cultural barriers prevent caregivers

(parents and teachers) from discussing

risks that children might encounter as

they surf the internet. Those are the same

cultural practices that prevent for example

sex education.

Focus Groups to

Understand the

Cultural Challenges

More

Focus Group Male

Teachers & Fathers Willingness to discuss with children & students.

Lack of guidance and/ or clear approach by MOE on

how to handle education of sexual abuse, pedophiles,

etc.

Teachers concern of the community’s reaction if such

topic is discussed in class, fear of losing job or being

socially- isolated/ abandoned.

Great understanding of impact on behavior and need

for integration strategy in school.

Parents need for trainings on how to talk to children

about sexual abuse. Fear of opening kids’ horizons to

inappropriate information.

Focus Group Female

Teachers & Mothers Educates children and students about sexual

abuse through frightening real life stories.

Rarely discuss the issue with male counterparts

or partners.

NOTE: Concerns of the community’s reaction if

such a topic is discussed in class, fear of losing

job or being socially- isolated/ abandoned was

not noticed among the female teachers.

Two Groups’ Concerns..

Not enough content in Arabic Language on internet safety and education against sexual abuse, etc.

Negative Cultural Practices and Norms such as the fact that sex is a taboo; a topic rarely discussed.

• Lack of co-operation from different members of the community.

• Confidentiality Issues; gossip community…

• Concern of credibility and good reputation.

• Double- standard for women and men behavior. How a case is perceived if the victim is a women.

More findings…

Cultural Norms Affect what We VIEW Online

• Children go online for questions parents refuse

to answer.

• Schools in Kharbatha are separate, boys vrs.

Girls. Internet is the medium to meet and learn

about the other sex.

Future Plans

Future Plans • Build on the successes and continue trainings,

media campaigns and awareness-raising!

• Continue collaborating with local organizations and governments on safer internet activities.

• Conduct a survey for all West Ramallah ADP on internet use.

• Seeking advice, tips and information to develop a sustainable efficient complaints mechanism.

• Actively involved in safer internet networks such as Insafe and KCSO network