Facebook is on Tuesday supporting Safer Internet Day with a campaign targeting more than 15 African countries.
This is in line with its commitment to building a safer online world for everyone.
The main aim is
to raise awareness about Internet safety and security concerns such as cyberbullying and cyber-crime by joining hands with more than 20 non-profit organisations and government agencies.
Facebook is supporting the day by sponsoring the printing of online safety awareness booklets, facilitating training sessions and creating a family-friendly animation.
“We know that safety is a shared conversation, which is why we are excited to be working with so many stakeholders around the continent to make the Internet a better place," public policy lead at Facebook
Sherry Dzinoreva said.
"Together, with Safer Internet Day as a platform, we can address emerging online concerns, so that people and especially children and the youth, can get the most from their Internet experience."
In Kenya, Facebook is supporting Watoto Watch’s Safer Internet Day event for students at Ngunyumu Primary School in Nairobi.
The event is the launch pad for the “A Million Campaign”, which seeks to raise awareness about online safety among schoolchildren.
It is also providing ad credits and safety booklets for the event.
“The Internet enables us to connect with friends and family, access a wealth of knowledge and information, and express our thoughts and creativity," Watoto Watch
executive director
Lillian Kariuki said.
She said the
children also need to understand how they can manage online risks as they make use of the Internet’s resources.
"Our aim, with the help of Facebook, is to equip children with this knowledge," she said.
The campaign covers most of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Others are Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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