Safe Internet Center organizes more than 600 actions throughout the country

As part of the European Safer Internet Day 2014, which was celebrated on February 11, the Safer Internet Center is promoting hundreds of actions in Portugal, taking place between February 11 and 28.

The activities organized by the Safe Internet Center, a project coordinated by the Foundation for Science and Technology, aim to raise awareness among the population, especially young people and children, to safely benefit from the opportunities offered by the Internet. They also extend to other population groups, namely seniors and people with special needs, including several initiatives aimed at parents and educators.

The Seguranet team, a component of the Safe Internet Center working for the school community in primary and secondary education at the Ministry of Education and Science, organizes initiatives in over 250 schools in the country. Students and parents participate in activities that promote the critical, conscious and safe use of the Internet. In 2013, these actions involved about 58,000 students, teachers, parents and educators.

The Internet Segura (Safer Internet) Center also promotes awareness-raising and training actions with the support of local technicians belonging to Public Libraries, Town Halls, Parish Councils, Social Solidarity Institutions, Internet Spaces, Ciência Viva Centers, Digital Inclusion Centers (CID Net), among others. More than 47,000 people will be involved, during this period, in actions all over the country.

The Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth (IPDJ) is promoting a national competition for young people up to 30 years old, which ends on February 19th. To participate you just need to produce a video of up to 60 seconds, with reference to the theme of the European Safer Internet Day 2014 - "Together we will create a better Internet" - and the "Campaign against Online Hate Speech", promoted by the European Commission and the IPDJ in Portugal. The creators of the selected videos will receive vouchers for Pousadas da Juventude.

More than 100 volunteers will also join the initiative by promoting the topic of Internet Safety in schools through the Microsoft Portugal Volunteer Scheme, a member of the consortium that includes the Safe Internet Center.