This document summarizes the Keeping Children Safe Online (KCSO) initiative in the West Ramallah area of Palestine. The initiative aims to educate children and caregivers about online risks and how to stay safe online. It has provided training to over 11,700 children on risks like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and sharing private information online. The project team includes several Palestinian ministries and NGOs. While the initiative faces challenges like conservative attitudes and lack of internet access, it has helped create awareness about online safety issues in Palestine through activities like a national Safer Internet Day campaign.

1. Online Risks Education and
Cultural Barriers
A Case Study: Keeping Children Safe Online Initiative in West
Ramallah Area Development Program (Kharbatha Bani Harith
Village),
World Vision- Jerusalem, West Bank- Gaza JWG

2. World Vision
International

3. World Vision
International
Jerusalem West Bank
Gaza • 11,700 girls and boys are
sponsored. Poorest of the
Poor.
• Vocational training in
sewing, embroidery,
knitting, cosmetics,
hairdressing, computer
literacy and graphic
design.
• Improving the well-being
of children and their
families in the West Bank
& Gaza through school
renovations, adequate

4. World Vision International
JWG
Ramallah Area Development
• 8 villages in West Ramallah.
• Development programs, project
extended to 2022.
• A system of steering
committees to assess the
needs and plan relevant
programs (village committee
and children committee).
• Success in enhancing
education development in terms
of quality and infrastructure.

5. Keeping Children Safe
Online
KCSO in JWG

6. Children in oPt@ONLINE...
Survey by Hadara (still in progress)
• Target age of survey: 7- 10 years old
53% of which are 9 years old, 90% have
internet at home.
• 35% use the internet for gaming, 6% for
chatting and social networking and 15%
for research. 43% use for all reasons
listed before.
• 64% said they get inappropriate material
including pornography whenever they try
to access a chatting or a social
networking website.
• 50% spend more than 4 hours/ day
searching the net for games, songs and
movies.
• 56% share their private information with
anyone online. 64% of which are 8 years
old.

7. Cyber-crimes
are increasing,
number
not known
Unemployment
PA is establishing a cyber- police unit is one of
the reasons
and draft law for cyber crimes

8. Internet is the WAY OUT
Many children in the West Bank and Gaza do not have
access to a
simple playground to play in. The internet serves as the way
out to have fun.
For example: Children make up 54.2% of the population
(UNICEF).
• In Gaza 70% of children are registered refugees
(UNICEF). In the West Bank the figure is around 30%
(UNRWA).
• Most refugee children live in over crowded registered
camps. Streets are usually alleyways and there is a
severe lack of space for children to play. Open sewers run
through some camps. Access to electricity and other
municipal services is also extremely limited.

9. Internet is the WAY OUT continues
World Vision JWG has been focusing
efforts on providing safe playgrounds
for children in the WB and Gaza. It is
one of the top three priority projects.

10. Keeping Children Safe Online
KCSO/ oPt (Targets)
• June 2011
• Currently piloted in Kharbatha Bani
Harith, WR. High percentages of
young users. Second Year: South &
West Jenin and South Salfeet. Third
Year: Central Nablus & Bethlehem.
• TO provide children and their
caregivers with skills to better protect
themselves and others from abuse and
sexual exploitation when using the
internet and other media technologies.
• TO create a complaints mechanism
online where incidents concerning
child pornography, trafficking, racism,
fraud and online protection in general
are reported.

11. Keeping Children Safe Online
KCSO/ oPt (PT)
Project Team
• World Vision
• the Palestinian Ministry of
Social Affairs;
• the Palestinian Ministry of
Education;
• the Palestinian High Judicial
Council;
• the Family Protection Unit of the
Palestinian Police;
• Save the Children UK (Palestine
Office);
• Defense for Children
International (Palestine Office);
• Palestinian Telecommunication
Group “PALTEL”

12. KCSO/ oPt
(Progress) Tools
• Posters for both target
groups of children (-/+ 13);
• Brochures for parents &
children;
• Interactive CD for children;
• Training manual for WV
staff.
Trainings
• TOT for caregivers, children
and project team & WVI
staff.
• Training for Children (-/+
13).
• Training for Parents.
• Training for Teacher.

13. Quick Outline of Children Trainings
Internet- Good’s & Benefits Places where Children Most
Potential Risks at Risk
• Messaging with inappropriate • Chat Rooms and Instant
content; Messenger
• Social networking, Blogs and
Forums
• Exposure to child
pornography, sexually explicit • Mobile Phones
and inappropriate pictures and • Gaming
materials;
Tools & TIPS how to surf the
• Dissemination of files internet safely
containing personal
information, which are used to • Practical tools on how to
perform illegal actions and protect our selves online.
violation of privacy;
• Tips for what to do when
• Pedophiles using the internet something not safe
to meet young people.
happens.

14. Teachers Training…What Can
You DO? Give Tips… Content is
customized to target group
Internet Evolution
Encourage Internet and computer-
illiterate Parents to surf the
internet, and give appropriate tips

15. Partnership with
Hadara, the largest internet Safer Internet Day… first time
provider in the oPt… $15,000
in the
oPt: A national media
campaign was planned to
highlight the importance of
the issue and inspire other
key members to work.
www.facebook.com/KCS
Ops
Awareness Cartoon, Newspaper
Ads and Radio Messages in
Arabic
In school events at Kharbatha Bani
Harith

16. KCSO/ oPt (Complaints
Mechanism)
In Progress
• Sustainable;
• Efficient;
• Functional;
• Confidential;
• Outreach.
Available Options
• Ministry of Social Affairs
Network of Child
Protection Orgs.
• Sawa Helpline.

17. Challenges

18.  Internet & Computer Illiteracy… Parents &
sometimes Teachers
Materials were made simpler to target the
clear majority of Kharbatha Bani Harith
population of parents and teachers who
are internet and computer-illiterate,
followed by a training on possible risks
online with tips on protection.

19.  Urgency of the Issue
• The concept of keeping children safe
online is new and plans were jointly made
by WV and other project team members,
as appropriate.
• The issue is not perceived as urgent
compared to other risks facing children in
the oPt.

20.  ACCESS
Due to checkpoints and the
Separation
Wall/ Barrier prohibiting
Palestinians
from accessing other
Palestinian territory
we face difficulties reaching out
to certain
villages especially those of
Gaza Strip.
Good News:
Almost 90% of our
Facebook page
subscribers are residence
of Gaza Strip.

21.  Conservative Community
The local community of Kharbatha Bani Harith is
conservative;
therefore, some materials discussing sexual
content on the internet
may seem inappropriate in a culture where such
topics are rarely
discussed in public.

22. High Risks vrs. Traditions…
• No integration of sexual education in school
curriculum
• No specific school curriculum on sexual
abuse.
• Negative attitudes from teachers, students
and children towards education on sexual
abuse.

23. Cultural barriers prevent caregivers
(parents and teachers) from discussing
risks that children might encounter as
they surf the internet. Those are the same
cultural practices that prevent for example
sex education.

24. Focus Groups to
Understand the
Cultural Challenges
More

25. Focus Group Male
Teachers & Fathers
 Willingness to discuss with children & students.
 Lack of guidance and/ or clear approach by MOE on
how to handle education of sexual abuse, pedophiles,
etc.
 Teachers concern of the community’s reaction if such
topic is discussed in class, fear of losing job or being
socially- isolated/ abandoned.
 Great understanding of impact on behavior and need
for integration strategy in school.
 Parents need for trainings on how to talk to children
about sexual abuse. Fear of opening kids’ horizons to
inappropriate information.

26. Focus Group Female
Teachers & Mothers
Educates children and students about sexual
abuse through frightening real life stories.
Rarely discuss the issue with male counterparts
or partners.
NOTE: Concerns of the community’s reaction if
such a topic is discussed in class, fear of losing
job or being socially- isolated/ abandoned was
not noticed among the female teachers.

27. Two Groups’ Concerns..
Not enough content in Arabic Language on internet
safety and education against sexual abuse, etc.
Negative Cultural Practices and Norms such as the
fact that sex is a taboo; a topic rarely discussed.
• Lack of co-operation from different members of the
community.
• Confidentiality Issues; gossip community…
• Concern of credibility and good reputation.
• Double- standard for women and men behavior.
How a case is perceived if the victim is a women.

28. More findings…
Cultural Norms Affect what We VIEW Online
• Children go online for questions parents refuse
to answer.
• Schools in Kharbatha are separate, boys vrs.
Girls. Internet is the medium to meet and learn
about the other sex.

29. Future Plans

30. Future Plans
• Build on the successes and continue trainings,
media campaigns and awareness-raising!
• Continue collaborating with local organizations
and governments on safer internet activities.
• Conduct a survey for all West Ramallah ADP on
internet use.
• Seeking advice, tips and information to develop
a sustainable efficient complaints mechanism.
• Actively involved in safer internet networks such
as Insafe and KCSO network