Cyber Savvy kids - Smart together online

Children are increasingly online, but not everyone has equal access to digital resources and skills. In addition, 1 in 5 low-income households do not have access to the interenet. 

Vulnerable children are at greater risk of digital exclusion, which causes them to lag behind in school and social development. Strengthening their digital resilience not only helps them use the internet safely and responsibly, but also provides equal opportunities for education and social participation. 

To meet this need, we have entered into a partnership with Link in De Kabel and Mediaraven. Together, we strive to ensure that every child has access to equal digital opportunities. Through our Heartware project, we have helped more than 5,000 children and families obtain a laptop to date. We are now expanding this with a focus on providing digital skills through workshops in schools with high levels of vulnerability. 

In the first half of 2024, we successfully launched our pilot project at nine schools in Limburg. A total of 530 pupils from the fourth to sixth years of primary education and the first two classes of secondary education took part in the workshop "Who is the cyboteur?". This interactive workshop playfully introduces pupils to the pitfalls of the internet and helps identify where additional digital skills support is needed. 

With this approach, we hope to make a lasting impact on children's digital resilience so that they can navigate the digital world with confidence and skill.