The Office of the Commissioner for Children worked together with BeSmartOnline! and with the FSWS (the Foundation for Social Welfare Services), the Directorate of Learning and Assessment Programs within the Ministry of Education, and the cybercrime unit within the Malta police force on a campaign specifically about sexting. 

This initiative aims to protect children online through educational campaigns, help and support. Several initiatives were organised to commemorate this important day. Several schools have committed to organising a number of activities with the help of the BeSmartOnline! team. 

Schools and other organisations were given access to a toolkit consisting of lesson plans and other resources developed by the BeSmartOnline! team, covering a number of topics regarding online safety for children of different ages. This toolkit can be downloaded here.  

In addition, three different resources were distributed in all schools, including Kiko u l-Ħafnajien, a publication of the Council of Europe translated into Maltese by the Office of the Commissioner for Children. This publication was distributed to Year 3 classes and their teachers. 

Teachers and educators were given a brochure promoting the balanced use of technology. It was distributed to all Year 6 pupils. In addition, there is a range of resources for PSCD educators to raise awareness about the risks of sexting to nine-year-olds. 

As part of the effort to raise awareness about the safe use of the internet, the team at BeSmartOnline! set up an information stand in Pjazza Tritoni, Valletta, on 4 February 2023, with activities for children. Parents, caregivers and guardians were encouraged to visit the stand as well to receive information about safer use of technology. 

For more information and guidance regarding online safety for children, you can visit www.besmartonline.org.mt, follow BeSmartOnline on Facebook, or call the support line 179. 

This article was sourced from the following website. 

Find out more about the work of the Maltese Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.