{"id":9764,"date":"2025-11-26T11:01:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T11:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/?p=9764"},"modified":"2026-01-19T20:28:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:28:47","slug":"ja-africa-with-support-from-google-org-to-equip-750000-african-youth-educators-and-parents-with-digital-safety-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/ja-africa-with-support-from-google-org-to-equip-750000-african-youth-educators-and-parents-with-digital-safety-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"JA Africa, with Support from Google.org, to Equip 750,000 African Youth, Educators, and Parents with Digital Safety Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Accra, Ghana \u2014 <\/strong>November 26, 2025 <\/strong>\u2014 Junior Achievement (JA) Africa, with support from Google.org through USD $1.5 million funding, will deliver digital literacy and online safety education to children, teachers, and parents across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.<\/p>

Through this groundbreaking initiative, JA Africa will implement Google\u2019s Be Internet Awesome (BIA) curriculum, empowering 250,000 children aged 7\u201315, 6,000 teachers, and 8,000 parents and caregivers with the skills and confidence to explore the digital world safely and responsibly by 2027.<\/p>

As internet access expands across Sub-Saharan Africa, many children are coming online for the first time without the knowledge or support needed to navigate digital spaces safely. Recent studies show that in Nigeria, more than 70 percent of children aged 6\u201312 use the internet but lack basic safety awareness. Similar patterns appear in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, where online risks such as cyberbullying, harassment, and exploitation remain widespread.<\/p>

\u201cAs digital connectivity becomes the foundation of modern life in Africa, our children must be equipped not only to participate, but to be protected,\u201d said Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa. \u201cWith funding from Google.org, we are helping young people turn access into opportunity, building a generation of smart, safe, and kind digital citizens.\u201d<\/p>

Developed by Google, Be Internet Awesome teaches the fundamentals of digital safety through interactive lessons and Interland, a gamified online platform that makes learning about privacy, cyberbullying, and media literacy fun and accessible for children.<\/p>

\u201cAt Google.org, we believe that every child should be able to explore the internet with confidence and care,\u201d said Alessia Scarpellini, Senior Program Manager, Child and Youth Safety and Digital Wellbeing, Stronger Communities, Google.org EMEA. \u201cBy supporting JA Africa\u2019s proven community-based model, we\u2019re helping educators, caregivers, and young people across the continent build the skills to be safe, confident explorers of the online world.\u201d<\/p>

The program will be delivered through school-based workshops, teacher trainings, and community outreach, ensuring equitable access even in underserved and rural areas. It also aligns closely with national child-protection and ICT-in-education priorities, including Ghana\u2019s National Child Online Protection Framework, Nigeria\u2019s Child Online Protection Policy and Strategy, and Kenya\u2019s Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection.<\/p>

Key Program Targets by 2027<\/p>