ChildOnlineAfrica

Facilitator’s Guide

Child Online Africa (COA)

www.childonlineafrica.org/sidafrica

Safer InternetDay Africa

2019

#SIDAfrica

“Educating children early and comprehensively about the many ways in which their data might be used is an important way to foster digital resilience and help rebalance the power between children and those that gather or use their information.”

If we are online to share ideas, we are at the same time building knowledge and understanding; we may challenge conventional wisdom, and we may create networks for positive change. This is particularly evident for younger generations, for whom the Internet offers endless opportunities to explore, learn, socialize and create, which in turn contribute directly to their personal development.It has become their primary source of freedom and information in growing up, and gives them the means to exercise their rights and freedoms online. Although the Internet harbours potential pitfalls, cautionary measures can be taken and sensible assistance provided. In order not to deter (especially younger) users, the Internet must not be presented as a dark place signposted with danger and caution.It is precisely in its aim of providing support in using the Internet knowledgeably, creatively, safely and fearlessly that makes the celebration of Safer Internet Day a priority and a unique and precious tool. If, through the celebration, children can embrace the multitude of possibilities that the Internet has to offer, at the same time as building up their digital Responsibility, Respect, Resilience, and Reasoning, then the celebration in 2019 will have served its purpose. Please refer to the SID Safety guide for young people.

About Child Online AfricaChild Online Africa (COA) formally known as J Initiative is a child focused research and advocacy based non- governmental organization that campaigns for/with children and young people and their families to influence policies and change practices that affect child welfare in Ghana and beyond. We build partnership with organizations and individuals to promote child online safety by employing rights and evidence based advocacy approaches to achieve sustainable outcomes. These activities we believe will indorse child online safety, wellbeing and literacy locally, foster An Africa Fit for Children and promote the global child protection agenda. Resource mobilization, Open Strategic Partnerships, Capacity building and policy advocacy have and will continue to play key roles in our work. We are pacesetters in most of our operational communities on issues of online literacy and safety, menstrual hygiene management and the general well-being of children and young people. Our work with Government, local and international organizations and individual technical experts, seeks to end all forms of individual, institutional, and systemic violence against children and young people. We strategically adopt mass education and provision of safety resources, violence prevention and response initiatives, advocacy and research to achieve our goals. Our policy advocacy consultations with the Ministry of Communication in Ghana are promoting Child Online Protection under a bigger Cyber Security framework resulting in mass awareness programs throughout the country. These actions have influenced Ghana’s status on the International Telecommunications Union’s COP benchmarking. We believe both local and international advocacy will effectively manage young people’s Internet access threats. The complexity of these challenges demands a participatory policy development to ensure universal action and produce the needed change in practices.

SAFER INTERNET DAY AFRICAFACILITATION GUIDE -#SID2019

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Overview of Safer Internet Day CelebrationAccording to the Telecommunication Union’s measure of Information Society Report, 51% of the world’s population will be online by 2018 and 24% of the population of Africa will be online by the end of this year. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can help accelerate progress towards every single one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Being online today is more than simply searching or moving from one site or another; people have moved away from that to making it a way of life. Nobody in the world is left out though not on the same measure of access, but key to the discussion is that, there is generally an access for anyone who wishes to get online. Learning and connecting through technology is now considered as very vital to one’s daily routine, which means the responsibility for being a good digital citizen takes on greater importance.It also means educating ourselves about both the benefits and risks of the new environment we find ourselves in which is the online world. Not only can we prioritize the benefits we derive from the online space, according to the Telecommunications Union (ITU)’s standards, we as users are expected to develop the habits which can help us stay safer there.The Safer Internet Day celebration is one of the platforms we can use to engage across board in a discussion around the issue of how to protect our devices, information and how to involve our families to learn, explore and interact online.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is organized by the INSAFE/INHOPE network of Safer Internet Centres (on behalf of the European Commission) in February of each year to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people across the world. Although the campaign originally started in Europe back in 2004, it has grown steadily yearly since that time, and was celebrated in more than 140 countries in 2018.

SID is a landmark campaign delivered locally through a number of Safer Internet Centers (in Europe) and Safer Internet Day Committees (beyond Europe), and it is backed by the Better Internet for Kids line of work (coordinated by European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission). In summary, countries outside of the Insafe network (EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Russia) wishing to participate in Safer Internet Day are invited to set up a Safer Internet Day Committee, which should be backed by the support of at least one public authority or government organization. The committee should involve leading actors in the online safety arena (such as NGOs, industry, researchers), but there can only be one SID Committee per country. No financial support is provided by the European Commission.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is a worldwide event which raises awareness about internet safety and empowers individuals and communities with tools for more positive online experiences.Taking place on 5 February 2019, Safer Internet Day has gained global momentum, with more than 130 countries set to celebrate in 2019.The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is the official Committee responsible for managing and promoting Safer Internet Day in Australia.

To promote safer and more responsible use of the Internet, safer internet day will throw light on some basic skills needed to surf the web.These skills take time to develop but they can help us in all areas of life- online and off.We like to call it the 4Rs.

• Respect – Do you treat other people (it could be yourself) the way will like to be treated?• Responsibility – Could I be accountable for my actions or could take a stand when I feel something is wrong?

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• Reasoning – How well do you question things that you come across online about other people or a situation you may be familiar with?.• Resilience – How do you react when you face difficult situations online?

WHY SAFER INTERNET DAY AFRICA? #SIDAfricaThe African continent has its unique culture and context when it comes to the conversation around responsible use of ICTs. Therefore, it will be appropriate to design an awareness creation to reflect and suit the continent’s peculiar need. The inspiration for the SIDAfrica content is based on The Office of the eSafety Commissioner in Australia and the Europol.In the spirit of the worldwide theme for 2019; ‘Together for a better internet’, we wish to encourage all Africans to collaborate with their communities and support each other in the awareness creation to develop the critical skills required for navigating the online world.

Let’s all learn the 4Rs of online safety this Safer Internet Day• Respect - I treat myself and others the way I like to be treated• Responsibility - I am accountable for my actions and I take a stand when I feel something is wrong Reasoning - I question what is real• Resilience - I get back up from tough situations

OBJECTIVESThe day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community.It calls upon young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and wider, to join together and help to create a better internet.It employs Strategic advocacy and awareness creation to get government and donors involved.

KEY MESSAGES• Safer Internet Day (SID) is an annual, worldwide event held on Tuesday, 5 February 2019.• Safer Internet Day aims to create a safer, better internet for all.• Safer Internet Day is a global movement, encouraging people to navigate the online world safely by developing four critical skills: Respect, Responsibility, Reasoning and Resilience.• The 2019 Safer Internet Day theme is ‘Together for a better Internet’.• Safer Internet Day aims to bring communities together to make the Internet safer.• The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is running activities and sharing marketing resources to promote Safer Internet Day in Australia and the 4Rs of online safety: Respect, Responsibility, Reasoning and Resilience.• On Safer Internet Day, millions of people around the world unite to inspire positive change and raise awareness about online safety.• Safer Internet Day encourages everyone to play their part, including children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, educators, social workers, industry leaders, decision makers and politicians.

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SUGGESTED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTSWe are promoting #SID2019 across Facebook; Twitter; Instagram and LinkedIn.

The following suggested posts can be used or adapted for your social media channels:

HASHTAGS: #SID2019, #SIDAfrica and #SID(name of country) i.e : SIDGhana#SID2019 Save the date! Feb 5, 2019. #SIDAfrica

Save the date! Feb 5, 2019. This Safer Internet Day – Together for a better internet#SID2019 #SIDAfrica

Save the date! Feb 5 2019. How will you apply the 4Rs of online safety this #SaferInternetDay?

Respect | Responsibility | Reasoning | Resilience | The 4Rs of online safety – Together for a better Internet #SaferInernetDay #SID2019 #SIDAfrica

Together for a better Internet #SaferInternetDay #SID2019 #SIDAfrica

We’re celebrating #SaferInternetDay to help encourage a safer and more positive Africa and the world—are you with us? #SID2019 #SIDAfrica

I follow The 4Rs, do you? How will you show RESPECT online this Safer Internet Day?

I’m a supporter. Are you? Will you be RESPONSIBLE and take action when you see something wrong online this Safer Internet Day?

I’m a supporter. Are you? Will you use your REASONING skills and question what is real this Safer Internet Day?

I’m a supporter. Are you? Will you build RESILIENCE and get back up from tough situations you may face online this Safer Internet Day?

I’m a supporter. Are you? How will you bring your community together for a better internet this Safer Internet Day? #SIDAfrica

Show us what you can do! Sign up & become a supporter of Safer Internet Day 2019. A better Internet starts with you! #SID2019 #SaferInternetDay #SIDAfrica

Share your ideas... how will you make the Internet a more respectful place this Safer Internet Day? #SID2019 is Feb 5, 2019. #SIDAfrica

Tell us your ideas... how will you act responsibly online this Safer Internet Day? #SID2019 Save the date! Feb 5, 2019.

Share your tips... how will you help others build RESILIENCE and get back up from tough situations online this Safer Internet Day? #SID2019 #SIDAfrica #SID2019 Feb 5, 2019.

Share your tactics... how will you use your REASONING skills this Safer Internet Day? #SID2019 Feb 5, 2019

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Tell us... how will you bring your community together for a better internet this Safer Internet Day?

Respect | Responsibility | Reasoning | Resilience | The 4Rs of online safety – Together for a betterInternet #SaferInernetDay #SID2019

RESILIENCE – Get back up from tough situations and set a good example this Safer Internet Day. #SaferInernetDay #SID2019 #SIDAfrica

RESPONSIBILITY– Take action when you see things that are not okay online #SaferInternetDay is Feb 5, 2019 #SID201 #SIDAfrica

I’m a supporter. Are you? Will you be RESPONSIBLE and take action when you see something wrong online this Safer Internet Day? #SIDAfrica

REASONING – Do you sometimes wonder what is real? Question everything! #SaferInternetDay is Feb 5, 2019 #SID2019 #SIDAfrica

RESPECT– How will you show you care this Safer Internet Day? Together for a better internet. #SaferInternetDay #SID2019 SIDAfrica

Would you like to receive what you’re about to send? Think before you click! #SaferInternetDay #SIDAfrica

R.E.S.P.E.C.T what does it mean to you? Tell us how you will make the internet a more respectful place this Safer Internet Day. #SID2019 #SaferInternetDay

Do you respect your own privacy online? Ever thought about how much personal info you share?Take a new direction this Safer Internet Day #SID2019 #SaferInternetDay #SIDAfrica

How can you help?There are many ways in which you (an individual) and your organization can help promote Safer Internet Day in Africa, be it by initiating new activities or events in your community or using the safety guide uploaded on the website: www.childonlineafrica.org/sidafrica through your networks. Please use the hashtags: #SID2019 #SIDAfrica #SID (name of your country) for instance: #SIDGhana.

Pledge your supportSafer Internet Day encourages everyone to play their part, including children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, educators, social workers, industry leaders, decision makers and politicians.

Engage learners or your students, educators and community, in their own words, to share how they will apply the 4Rs of online safety this Safer Internet Day.

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