Making the internet safer through digital education
On February 6, institutions, companies, and individuals worldwide celebrated “Safer Internet Day” under the motto “together for a better internet”. This day is dedicated every year to promoting a safer digital environment, especially for children and adolescents.
On this occasion, Saferinternet.at, in collaboration with the A1 digital.campus in Austria, offered free online workshops. Under the guidance of Barbara Buchegger, the educational director of Saferinternet.at, two events took place: a lecture providing information and tips for educators, and the presentation of current study results on the topic of “beauty ideals on the internet”. Exciting insights were shared, discussions were sparked, and practical recommendations were provided to actively address the challenges of the digital age.
But also beyond “Safer Internet Day,” we at A1 are committed to digital education.
In collaboration with the Safe Internet organization, A1 in Slovenia offered free educational events for Slovenian elementary school students throughout the year. More than 34,000 children participated, and extracurricular activities were also organized. The highlight of the past year was reached when over 20,000 students participated in a nationwide quiz, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
At A1 in Bulgaria, initiatives are offered for the older generation: The “Internet for All 55+” initiative, focusing on older people, continued, offering workshops on topics such as “Online Shopping,” “Facebook,” and “Fake News.”
Additionally, the A1 STEMFemme Junior project in Croatia aims to strengthen aspirations and, especially, to motivate girls for STEM professions. Launched by A1 Croatia and the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, it includes the development of a STEM workshop curriculum for fifth and sixth-grade students in elementary schools. The goal is to develop new skills with modern technologies and to promote learning through everyday models and examples. The pilot project was originally intended to cover five elementary schools, but due to great interest, the program is now being implemented in all 14 schools that applied.
