WILLEMSTAD – MediaLab Curaçao will launch free digital safety workshops for students in groups 6, 7 and 8 of primary education during the new school year, helping children learn how to navigate the online world safely, critically and responsibly.
The workshop, titled “Who Am I Online?”, will be delivered at participating schools by a specially trained instructor. The program focuses on challenges children increasingly encounter while using the internet and social media.
Topics include online privacy, fake news, peer pressure, cyberbullying and personal boundaries. Students will also discuss what information they should and should not share online and how using an avatar can help protect their identity.
Rather than relying solely on traditional classroom instruction, the workshop uses short videos, recognizable real-life situations and group discussions to encourage students to think about their own online behavior.
As part of the program, students will also design their own avatars offline.
According to MediaLab Curaçao, the workshop connects digital safety with broader themes including digital literacy, citizenship and children’s rights.
The initiative is aimed at helping children become more aware of both the opportunities and risks they encounter online while encouraging them to think critically about the choices they make in digital environments.
Workshops will be available in both Dutch and Papiamentu.
Schools will not be charged for participation, and teachers will receive a guide that can be used to support the lessons and continue discussing digital safety with students in the classroom.