The I-CAN Centre in partnership with Media Monitoring Africa celebrated Internet Safer Day on the 6th February 2018 at Sport Science Centre, Newlands. 80 students from Primary and High School within Elsies River were afforded the opportunity to be transported to Newlands.
Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and encourages everyone to use the internet in a safer and more responsible fashion – all year round. Launched in 2004, Safer Internet Day is celebrated annually on the second day of the second week of the second month. The project was originally an initiative of the EU Safe Borders project and is celebrated in 130 countries around the globe. The 2018 theme, “Create, connect and share respect: A better internet starts with you” is a call to action for every learner, stakeholder, teacher and parent to play their part in creating a better internet for everyone, but especially for the youngest users out there.
Not only did the I-CAN Centre celebrate the “Internet Safer Day” but also the launch of the pilot project “Web Rangers” at Newlands with Media Monitoring Africa funded by Google SA, and Film and Publications Board. The Web Rangers is a digital literacy programme designed to allow young people to gain critical skills and knowledge around online safety and promoting safe internet usage and champion their rights in the digital world. The programme is about creating young digital citizens who know how to use the internet responsibly and encourage their peers to do the same.
Llewellyn Scholtz, Centre Manager of the I-CAN Centre & Executive Director of G-CITI Campus indicated that cyber bullying and cyber stalking has become a growing concern for parents, school teachers and principals. The Web Rangers project will address these issues in a positive way.
Cayden Vermeulen (13) attending Valhalla Primary School commented that the Internet Safer Day empowered him to identify fake accounts, bogus emails use the internet responsibly.
The Web Rangers pilot project will start from April to August at the I-CAN Centre focusing on educating youth between age 12-17 regarding online safety. 50 learners will be attending the programme; which will be completed with a competition in August whereby youth will showcase online campaigns created to address cyber issues. The I-CAN Centre is located at 268 Halt Road, Elsies River. For more information, contact Lincoln Cupido on 021 202 0596 or email us on reception@g-citi.org