🌐Safer Internet Day Celebrations in Kenya: Together for a Better Internet 📢Terre des Hommes Netherlands, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection under the Directorate of Children Services, hosted the Safer Internet Day National Celebrations in Machakos University on 11th February 2025. 💻 This event brought together children, parents, educators, private sector, government and community to emphasise the significance of online safety for children. The theme of this year’s event, "Together for a Better Internet," underscored the collective effort required to promote safer and responsive use of digital technologies, especially for children and youth. 💡Key highlights The day began with an enthusiastic procession that drew over 600 participants, illustrating the community's commitment to addressing online safety. Participants included state and non-state actors, children, youth, parents, teachers, tech companies, policymakers, and opinion leaders. Following this, attendees engaged in interactive discussions and workshops focused on promoting safe online practices. 💡Reinforced commitment to protect children online Magdalene Wanza, Country Director, Kenya, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, delivered a compelling keynote address during the event. She emphasised the crucial role parents play in protecting their children in the digital world. Magdalene stated, “On this Safer Internet Day, I urge all parents to take an active role in safeguarding our children's online experiences. Together, let us educate ourselves and our kids about safe internet practices. Join us in fostering a secure digital environment for our future!” 💡Children's Voices The message was reiterated by Jeniffer Katiwa, Executive Director, Jitegemee Children's Program, a local Partner of TdH NL. Jeniffer appealed to all actors to come together and play both their individual and collective roles to promote a safer internet for children. Dennis Ratemo, Programme Manager, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, who was the Co-Mcee of the day, led an introductory session to create awareness on the situation of child online safety and exposure in Kenya. He shared that while almost 70% of children in Kenya are Internet users, 73% of those exposed to social media are not aware of the social media platforms’ privacy settings. This means for every 10 children online, 7 are exposed to potential online perpetrators due to privacy gaps. Moreover, the event featured inspiring contributions from children. One young representative shared her thoughts on online responsibility, saying, “In our digital playground, let us be the guardians of joy and safety. Remember to share kindness, respect each other, and always talk to an adult if something feels wrong online. Together, we can make the internet a conducive space for everyone!” In their presentations, children from across 7 schools reinforced the message of children keeping safe online, using strong and unique passwords, and being careful not to click every link shared as not all links are safe. 🌟This Safer Internet Day celebration was a crucial event aimed at empowering key actors to create a safer online environment for children. By working together, we can ensure that the internet remains a positive, joyful space for children. #endocse #saferinternetday #onlinesafety