Coalition Umwana ku Isonga in partnership with Ministry of ICT and Innovation & National Child Development Agency with Sida Funds support through Save the Children International Rwanda conducted a dissemination event of the Child Online Protection Policy and its guidelines. The dissemination was done into 3 schools of Huye District to raise awareness about the risks and opportunities of online engagement and to promote safe and responsible use of digital technologies among teachers and students of secondary school. The schools are Groupe Scolaire Officiel Butare, Ecole Notre Dame de la Providence Karubanda and Groupe Scolaire Butare Catholique.
During the dissemination campaign in those three schools which was held on 25th and 26th June 2025, students and teachers were mobilized about how to be smart and safe online.
Why Do We Need Online Safety?
We need to be safe on the internet because there are dangers and bad things that can happen when we go online. That’s why the Government of Rwanda developed a Child Online Policy to protect children on the internet. This policy helps children stay safe and learn how to protect themselves when they are online. It is just like wearing shoes to protect your feet from thorns and sharp stones when walking to school, Child Online Protection Policy (COP) guidelines are like shoes for your digital life! It helps protect you from things that might hurt or confuse you online.
What Risks & Harms when online?
There are 4 types of online risks:
Content Risks:
Watching content that is not meant for kids — like scary videos, fake news, or hurtful messages.
Example: Films and videos (pornographic, action movies, dehumanizing videos, etc)
Contact Risks:
Strangers trying to chat or trick you.
Example: Someone you don’t know asks for your photo, location, password or wants to meet you.
Conduct Risks:
Being unkind or being bullied online.
Example: Sharing embarrassing photos or someone spreading lies about you.
(Classmates sharing embarrassing photos of you on WhatsApp groups to embarrass you, or classmates creating fake stories about your family and spreading them through social media to make other students laugh at you)
Contract Risks:
Being tricked into buying something or sharing too much personal info.
Example: A game asks for your name and birthday, location, password, to give a prize — that’s a trap!
Here are the things you should do (DOs)and things you should not do (Don’ts) online:
DOs:
- Tell a trusted adult if something online makes you feel uncomfortable
- Be nice online – treat others with kindness
- Use a strong password and keep them secret
- Think twice before you click on anything
- Check your privacy settings with a parent/caregiver/guardian
DON’Ts:
- Don’t share your full name, school, or address online
- Don’t talk to strangers or agree to meet someone from the internet
- Don’t post pictures without permission
- Don’t click on weird or suspicious links
Remember…
You are in control! If something online doesn’t feel right — it probably isn’t. Always ask for help from an adult you trust.
