Together for a better internet
Celebrated on the second day of the second week of the second month, safer internet day is organised by the joint insafe/INHOPE network of safer internet centres in Europe, with the support of the European commission, to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology.
Junior Kapofi
This year’s safer internet day commemoration was held at the Windhoek Country Club on the 10 February under the theme ‘together for a better internet’. The event was attended by children from the Namibian Children’s Home, Katutura Youth Enterprise Center (KAYEC), the Children’s Parliament, Lifeline/Childline Namibia as well as the deputy minister of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare, Bernadette Jagger.
The deputy minister, in her opening remarks, mentioned that the purpose of this campaign is to reach out to all children and young people, parents, teachers, caregivers as well as industry decision-makers and politicians to play their part in creating a safer internet. Furthermore, she mentioned that the use of technology is on the rise and the accessibility to internet has increased, including for children.
There was also a panel discussion lead by Sarah Edward from the children’s parliament where six children came together to discuss the internet. When panellists were asked what the government can do to make the internet a safer place for children, they mentioned that government is already doing enough, seeing as this event is being held, but they added that there is room for improvement.
“What the government should do is provide more awareness campaigns within communities because I hardly see this happening in the communities,” Eliakim Helao, one of the panellists, said.
Representative from the children’s parliament Maria Iikali mentioned that she feels that government should create geo-location software where parents are able to track their children because many times children meet up with strangers from the internet and parents will not know where they are at times, so this will just make that much easier.
A representative from KAYEC, Flavia Shanghala, mentioned that this event should be broken down into smaller events to reach especially those who need this information. Furthermore, she said that during these events, IT technicians should be brought in to teach and show children about all these new gadgets.
A representative from the Namibian Children’s Home Joyce Waandja mentioned that internet or computer literacy programmes can be created for parents, so that they too can be educated on the use of the internet and better monitor their children online. The panellists also spoke on the importance of teaching children confidence from a young age as this will make it a little easier for them to not be an easy target for bullies. “Parents and teachers, I think, while children are still young, should teach them to have confidence and high self-esteem,” Shanghala said.
This year’s safer internet day commemoration was held at the Windhoek Country Club on the 10 February under the theme ‘together for a better internet’. The event was attended by children from the Namibian Children’s Home, Katutura Youth Enterprise Center (KAYEC), the Children’s Parliament, Lifeline/Childline Namibia as well as the deputy minister of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare, Bernadette Jagger.
The deputy minister, in her opening remarks, mentioned that the purpose of this campaign is to reach out to all children and young people, parents, teachers, caregivers as well as industry decision-makers and politicians to play their part in creating a safer internet. Furthermore, she mentioned that the use of technology is on the rise and the accessibility to internet has increased, including for children.
There was also a panel discussion lead by Sarah Edward from the children’s parliament where six children came together to discuss the internet. When panellists were asked what the government can do to make the internet a safer place for children, they mentioned that government is already doing enough, seeing as this event is being held, but they added that there is room for improvement.
“What the government should do is provide more awareness campaigns within communities because I hardly see this happening in the communities,” Eliakim Helao, one of the panellists, said.
Representative from the children’s parliament Maria Iikali mentioned that she feels that government should create geo-location software where parents are able to track their children because many times children meet up with strangers from the internet and parents will not know where they are at times, so this will just make that much easier.
A representative from KAYEC, Flavia Shanghala, mentioned that this event should be broken down into smaller events to reach especially those who need this information. Furthermore, she said that during these events, IT technicians should be brought in to teach and show children about all these new gadgets.
A representative from the Namibian Children’s Home Joyce Waandja mentioned that internet or computer literacy programmes can be created for parents, so that they too can be educated on the use of the internet and better monitor their children online. The panellists also spoke on the importance of teaching children confidence from a young age as this will make it a little easier for them to not be an easy target for bullies. “Parents and teachers, I think, while children are still young, should teach them to have confidence and high self-esteem,” Shanghala said.
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