Currently, 30 ambassadors, who are mainly pedagogues, librarians, and coordinators of youth centres from all over Latvia, are actively participating in the programme. Regional ambassadors contribute to raising awareness and promoting safer use of the internet in their cities and regions, with a special focus on educating children and their parents and carers.

The training participants explored various aspects of media literacy and the importance of critical thinking as one of the most important skills for staying safe online. They also gained insight into current online safety issues. Additionally, everyone was involved in a practical activity - the ambassadors worked together on the development of new educational material for the Latvian Safer Internet Centre.

The ambassadors had the opportunity to learn one of the media literacy methods “Understanding the headlines”. They also joined the LAMPA 2021 Conversation Festival and listened to discussions among experts about different social issues such as respect, equality, freedom of speech, modern technologies, democracy, a safe digital environment, and more.

The Safer Internet Ambassadors training session is a great opportunity to meet individuals with common interests, share experiences and achievements from the previous year, and get to know new colleagues. Five new ambassadors join the Safer Internet Ambassadors community every year.

The training process was organised to let participants engage both individually and in groups. The practical sessions were designed to give participants not only basic knowledge about the topics covered in the agenda but also practical advice – tools and methods to be used on a daily basis when working with children and young people.

After the training meeting, the ambassadors shared that one of the main lessons they took home is the understanding that media literacy, digital literacy, and information literacy require not only technical and theoretical knowledge but also a change in habits, attitudes, and actions.

The ambassadors also shared the next steps they will take after the training session: proposals include developing a programme to help prevent cyberbullying in schools, educating children on how they can protect themselves online, organising meetings and discussions with parents to give advice on how to protect their children online, and organising lessons in schools and kindergartens on online safety.

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