Safe internet programme for 4 lakh children

Risingbd Desk: Grameenphone, Telenor Group and UNICEF have jointly inaugurated “Safe Internet Outreach Programme” in schools nationwide aiming to create awareness among children about safer internet environment.

The programme titled ‘Be Smart, Use Heart’ was officially launched today (September 26) in the presence of State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Grameenphone CEO Michael Foley and UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Edouard Beigbeder at a ceremony in GP House.

The programme has been specially designed to engage and empower 4 lakh children aged between 11 and 16 years and sensitise 50,000 parents, guardians and teachers on how to facilitate a safer digital experience.

The training in schools focuses primarily on building awareness on the safety measures for digital learning. Moreover, the scope of the Child Helpline hotline (1098) service has been expanded to incorporate Child Online Safety issues, where the youth can receive counseling and other support directly from the hotline.

“Ensuring internet safety is a key element of achieving our dream of a digital Bangladesh. As a nation, we want to equip our youth with the right modes of technology so that our youth can compete in a global scale,” Palak said while addressing the function as the chief guest.

“Initiatives like Child Online Safety will only play a significant role in creating awareness and will also help us understand the responsibility that each one of us,” he said.

The state minister said: “We want to take necessary measures and help organisations like Grameenphone and UNICEF create safer digital environment for our future generations”.

Grameenphone has been actively advocating safer internet messages among children since 2014 and also reached out to 130,000 students nationwide. In 2015, Grameenphone and UNICEF had also launched a parent’s guidebook for responsible internet usage and best practices.


risingbd/Dhaka/Sept 26, 2018/Firoz/AI