Safety online crusader with Zee Tech Foundation

Project status: Closed

Country: Nigeria

Partner: Zee Tech Foundation

Impact goal: 1500 students

About the project

The statistics of online child abuse is particularly damaging for emerging economies like Nigeria. The unavailability of information and lack of knowledge on safe online practices has accounted for the high incidences of child online abuse in these emerging economies. This realization is the drive for this project which aims to educate 1500 students from 20 schools on ways to stay safe while online, how to report any incidences of cyberbullying, harassment, or exploitation and how to be good citizens online. These students will be equipped with the age-appropriate information sources and materials to become Ambassadors and Peer Advocates in their communities.

More information can be found on Zee Tech Foundation's website and on our blog!

Results of the project

Target audience was 1,500 students drawn from 20 schools in Bauchi and Plateau State with the training focus being on online safety and responsible internet usage. Gender balance was a key component in planning this program. This was well communicated to the administrations of all schools. The team visited and trained students in each of the 20 schools (10 from each State. The training period lasted 90 minutes. Practical tips were offered, sessions were very interactive, online ambassadors inducted, and light refreshments were shared after each training session.

The project provided knowledge and awareness about online safety and responsible internet usage to these students as part of the training content. The students got knowledge on topics such as: protecting personal information, avoiding cyberbullying, recognizing online scams, and understanding the potential risks associated with social media and internet use.

Post-training assessments and surveys have been conducted to gauge the students' knowledge and understanding of online safety topics before and after the training. This has helped measure the project's success in achieving its intended goals.

The results are in light with project expectation and aim.

1. Direct beneficiaries in terms of numbers are the 1500 students and 50 teachers that participated physically in the project.
2. Indirect beneficiaries are the families of these 1550 participants and the 20 communities where the schools are located. 
3. The training created a chain reaction that will be difficult to quantify at this time. It is expected that the teachers will replicate the training sessions with other students. The students are expected to share instruction materials and knowledge with friends and family. The training has greatly equipped teachers on online safety. It has also equipped them with the necessary knowledge and tools to guide and support the students in their online activities. This creates a safer digital environment in the schools and beyond.

Challenges

The major challenge encountered is the social unrest that occurred in Plateau state. It affected the school calendar which delayed the project slightly and made resource people weary of going to those locations. However, as soon as normalcy was restored, the project ran as planned. 

In the future, provision will be made for virtual teaching aids and materials. With virtual learning aids, Zee Tech Foundation can continue to engage students while on vacation and at home.

About the partner

Zee Tech Foundation is a youth-focused NGO that aims to promote digital literacy across under-served urban and rural communities. The organization was founded in 2020, and has since been supporting these under-served communities to harness ICT for learning and development.

Visit Zee Tech Foundation's website here to learn more about them.