Making a responsible, creative and safe use of the internet requires that children and teenagers develop a series of competences and life skills to help them recognize the dangers on the web and manage them appropriately. Some of these are:
Communication and expression: Communication and expression skills allow us to solve difficulties and negotiate with others, cooperate, work in a team and develop positive relationships.
Critical thinking and decision making: Learning to doubt, question and verify information is necessary to critically analyze situations and identify the causes of a problem.
Empathy and respect: These skills make it possible to appreciate similarities and respect different opinions. They help establish better relationships with others.
Problem solving and conflict management: These skills allow teens to analyze the roots of their problems, find solutions, and practice skills such as negotiation and mediation.
Creativity and innovation: Thinking and expressing new and original ideas is achieved by developing creativity and innovation. They involve imagining new possibilities and exploring them on a daily basis.
At “Escuela de Influenciadores” (“Influencers School”, a strategy of Unicef and Tigo Colombia, implemented by MAKAIA, we work with kids and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19 in 8 cities in the country: Barranquilla, Cali, Pasto, Soacha, Medellín, Quibdó, Sincelejo and Pereira. Through online workshops we develop these skills while we talk about education, health, digital divide, social capital, excessive use of the internet, cyberbullying, sexuality and safety.
Thanks to the program we have trained 96 national leaders, 800 regional leaders, and 2,600 local leaders across the country.
Escuela de influenciadores strengthens and empower participants by giving them tools to become leader and “influencers” or spokespersons for the responsible, safe and creative use of the internet in their communities and nearby environments.
We invite you to learn more about Escuela de Influenciadores by visiting www.ciberconscientes.com, the free access digital platform, in which children and teenagers share content, experiences, and learn from the digital world.
