CyberPeace Foundation and WhatsApp launch second edition of online safety programme for students: To add new states and more – Times of India

CyberPeace Foundation and WhatsApp have announced the launch of the second edition of their ‘Cyber Ethics and Online Safety Programme’ for students. The programme has been launched in consultation with UNICEF and state police authorities. In the first phase, the program created awareness about safe online behaviour among students across five states — Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. This time, the programme is being extended to three more states in the country: Assam, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The online safety program from WhatsApp and CyberPeace Foundation aims to reach 10,000 students during the current edition. It will cover broad topics related to cybersecurity and online safety. It will impart training to teachers, parents and students based on a co-created curriculum. The course content has tips and tricks aimed to raise awareness among children about the dangers they may face in the online world and how to stay safe.
At the end of these training sessions, the participants will create a ‘CyberPeace Club’. The aim of this club will be to ensure that the knowledge gained is further institutionalized as well as manage a repository of guidance that can help other students better manage their safety while online.
During the first phase, which spanned over a period of six months, 16,201 students were sensitized on the various aspects of online safety. These students were between the age group of 13 to 18 years.