Training of Trainers on Cyber Safety for Children and Young People (29 April – 1 May 2018)
ChildSafeNet, in partnership with Red Circle Creative Solutions, conducted a three-day cyber safety training of trainers (ToT) workshop from 29 April to 1 May 2018 in Lalitpur, Nepal. The ToT was conducted with support from Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), with an objective to develop trainers to conduct cyber safety training sessions with children and young, as a part of the International Girls in ICT Day 2018 programme in Nepal. The ToT benefitted twenty-one participants, mostly young women (15 female and 6 male).
The ToT workshop covered sessions on living in the digital age, online risks for children and young people, online child sexual abuse and exploitation (cyber grooming for sexual purpose, child sexual abuse/exploitation materials, exposure to harmful sites, sexting, sextortion, sexual live streaming), cyber bullying, phishing and other cyber-crimes. Likewise, the ToT workshop had sessions on internet addiction and its psychological impacts, and cyber security for children and young people. Moreover, there was a session on legal provisions for protection of children and young people online. Participants were also provided knowledge and skills on conducting training sessions with children and young people.
Anil Raghuvanshi (President, ChildSafeNet) had contributed as the principal facilitator of the ToT workshop. Riju Shrestha (Head of Operations, Red Circle), Pushkar Mathema (Vice-President, ChildSafeNet/Journalist/Media Trainer/Former Chief Editor of Gorkhapatra National Daily), Udayan Shreshta (Intern, ChildSafeNet) had also facilitated sessions in the ToT workshop. Moreover, four external resource persons had facilitated sessions in the workshop, namely, Sumnima Tuladhar (Child Rights Expert, CWIN), Dr. Rabi Shakya (Head, Department of Mental Health, Patan Hospital), Ms Mona Nyachyon (Head/Cyber Security Expert, LogPoint Nepal) and Ms Swechhya Sangraula (Legal Expert/Lecturer, Kathmandu School of Law). PowerPoint presentations, discussions, cyber safety quiz and exercises were used as the training tools in the ToT workshop.
After the ToT workshop, ChildSafeNet organized training planning meetings with the participants. The training planning meetings also helped them to better understand the two-hour training module on cyber safety for children and young people, which they will use as the trainers. ChildSafeNet will further mentor them and provide feedback to improve their training skills. Participants will plan training sessions with children and young people in consultation with Red Circle and ChildSafeNet. As planned, participants of ToT have conducted cyber safety training sessions for children and young people.
The Senior Director of Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), Mr Ananda Raj Khanal, graced the opening and closing of the ToT as the chief guest and Mr Tarak Dhital, Executive Director of the Central Child Welfare Board, attended the closing ceremony as the special guest. Both of them encouraged the participants and reiterated their commitment to make the Internet safer for children and young people.
