The inappropriate use of digital or mobile phone technology has led to the spiral increase of cyber abuse, stalking, and violence, hampering the right of young people to express themselves. In the digital age, staying safe online is more important than ever. A lack of knowledge or awareness of the potential dangers that lurk in the cyber world can be a real threat to the personal safety and security of women and girls.
About Digital Safety Advocacy Course
To address this issue, Rhealyz Africa partnered with The African Women Development Fund (AWDF) to train young women within Ondo State through the Digital Safety Advocacy Course. The course which includes an introduction to cyber security, disinformation, misinformation, and fake news, internet safety among others is meant to build the capacity of these young people with knowledge and skills to become digital safety advocates. With this knowledge, they can ensure safety as they navigate the virtual space and also educate others around them.
The course is meant for young women within Ondo State especially those between the ages of 18 and 25. The young women will be trained for 5 months in different areas by trained digital safety advocacy facilitators. The training will also extend to others within their communities as they would be expected to reach out to them using the media as a major tool of advocacy.
The project was launched in 2022 with about 30 young women selected. The onboarding session was held during our virtual event to commensurate the 16 days of activism in 2022. The course will be launched fully in the year 2023.
Digital safety advocacy is an important and necessary course of action in today’s world. It can help create a safer environment for everyone and can help prevent cyberbullying, identity theft, and other online threats. By understanding the scope of digital safety advocacy, we can make the internet a safer place for everyone. Teaching people the risks associated with the online activity is key to creating a safer, more secure space for all users.