Vodafone Foundation is linking up with Save the Children to run a Europe wide initiative to improve the digital skills and resilience of children aged between nine and 16.

Through the link up the Foundation will combine its experience in delivering digital training with the charity’s work in child protection, wellbeing and children’s rights.

Online safety, digital rights and ethical online behaviour are among the issues being covered in the programme.

Training will go live in Albania, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Greece and Turkey from September this year and will be integrated with the Foundation’s Europe wide Skills Upload Junior digital skills programme, which has so far reached 7.5m children.

“Every half second, a child makes their first click online and enters a world full of opportunities but also risks,” said Vodafone group chief external and corporate affairs officer, and Vodafone Foundation trustee Joakim Reiter.

“We want to guide and equip children with the knowledge and skills to navigate this digital landscape safely and in a healthy way, especially for those with limited access to technology.”

Save the Children chief executive Maozzam Malik added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Vodafone Foundation on this hugely important project.

“Combining Vodafone’s technological capabilities with Save the Children’s expertise in children’s protection and wellbeing in the digital space, we will strive to ensure children have the tools to create safer, more equitable environments both online and offline.”

Also, through the partnership a youth board on digital wellbeing will be created to include the views of children on issues around online safety, digital inclusion and mental health.
It will also conduct digital wellbeing research and provide resources to schools, with a focus on marginalised communities.

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