DHAKA, Sept 26, 2018 (BSS) – Grameenphone, Telenor Group and UNICEF have
jointly taken a safe internet outreach programme in schools nationwide aiming
to create awareness among children about safer internet environment.
The programme titled ‘Be Smart, Use Heart’ was officially launched
today in the presence of State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak,
Grameenphone CEO Michael Foley and UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Edouard
Beigbeder at a ceremony in GP House, a press release said.
The programme has been specially designed to engage and empower 4 lakh
children aged between 11 and 16 years and sensitise 50,000 parents, guardians
and teachers on how to facilitate a safer digital experience.
The training in schools focuses primarily on building awareness on the
safety measures for digital learning. Moreover, the scope of the Child
Helpline hotline (1098) service has been expanded to incorporate Child Online
Safety issues, where the youth can receive counseling and other support
directly from the hotline.
“Ensuring internet safety is a key element of achieving our dream of a
digital Bangladesh. As a nation, we want to equip our youth with the right
modes of technology so that our youth can compete in a global scale,” Palak
said while addressing the function as the chief guest.
“Initiatives like Child Online Safety will only play a significant role
in creating awareness and will also help us understand the responsibility
that each one of us,” he said.
The state minister said: “We want to take necessary measures and help
organisations like Grameenphone and UNICEF create safer digital environment
for our future generations”.
Grameenphone has been actively advocating safer internet messages among
children since 2014 and also reached out to 130,000 students nationwide. In
2015, Grameenphone and UNICEF had also launched a parent’s guidebook for
responsible internet usage and best practices.