Kenya to join the world in marking Safer Internet Day on 9th February

Safer Internet Day 2016 will be celebrated globally on Tuesday 9th February with the slogan ‘Play your part for a better internet’.

Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

The day offers an 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, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and wider, to join together in helping to create a better internet.

The celebration will see organizations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people in Kenya.

Safer Internet was started way back in 2014 by Watoto Watch Network. In 2014 Organization came together to educate children on how to be safe online .Organizations that took part were Terre des Hommes Netherlands, The Internet Society-Kenya Chapter, Communications Authority of Kenya (C.A), Strathmore University, DiploFoundation, Childline Kenya ,Child Africa-BINGW, Safaricom.

In 2015 February, Children came together to voice their challenges while using the internet. They created a video that was showcased on Youth TV four times on that day. Other organizations feature in the video Department of Criminal Investigations- Cyber Crime Unit, Internet Society-Kenya Chapter and Watoto Watch Network.

“In addition, we had collaborative media publicity by Samsung Kenya and Watoto Watch Network on what settings parents can use to ensure their children are safer while using their gadgets. This year we are looking into creating a video showcasing how different organizations are playing their part for a better internet and also hold competitive debate forum by the children from both high school and primary school on what part they are playing for a better internet. A Q &A session where children will be asking question to ICT industry players on how they would better their services to fit their needs, will also be held “ said Lilian Kariuki, Executive Director Watoto Watch.

There will be stands set by the different organizations where children will visit to learn more on how to use the internet productively and positively. The children will have an opportunity to express their views on how to improve online tech. and applications. Children will get an opportunity to learn more on how they can protect themselves online; the tools and tip as well as how to the day will look into how they Increase in the number of children and organizations commemorating this day.

Globally, Safer Internet Day is celebrated in over a hundred countries, coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and national Safer Internet Centres across Europe.