COMMUNITY | PLDT, Smart teach kids to stay safe online
Launched in time for the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela, the campaign uses storytelling to promote digital literacy.
Source: Smart Communications
PLDT and Smart Communications are expanding their #BeCyberSmart campaign to more schools nationwide, helping children and their parents identify online threats and stay safe in the digital world.
Launched in time for the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela, the campaign uses storytelling to promote digital literacy. Students at West Rembo Elementary School in Taguig and Maguikay Elementary School in Cebu joined interactive reading sessions featuring Ang Paglalakbay ni Tala, a storybook created by PLDT and Smart with Kids for Kids PH and the Positive Youth Development Network. The book follows Tala, a 9-year-old who explores the metaverse and learns how to protect her rights and avoid online dangers like cyberbullying and scams.
“When children understand the world they’re growing up in—online and offline—they learn to protect themselves,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president at PLDT and Smart.
Teachers praised the book’s accessible storytelling. “It was clear they picked up on the lessons right away,” said Mary Shaine Llegad, a Grade 3 teacher at West Rembo Elementary School. Copies of the book were also distributed to schools in Davao del Sur, Pampanga, Las Piñas, Quezon City, and Cavite.
Aside from the storytelling sessions, students and parents attended a #BeCyberSmart seminar, where they learned to recognize scams, social engineering tricks, and other forms of online exploitation. “In time, [children] need to become independent. They should be able to tell if someone is trying to deceive them or not,” said one parent attendee.
PLDT and Smart partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress to bring the program to more communities. The companies also participated in Brigada Eskwela by helping clean and prepare classrooms.
The initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on quality education and SDG 16 on child protection and inclusive societies.
WATCH TECHSABADO ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
WATCH OUR OTHER YOUTUBE CHANNELS:
PLEASE LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE and SUBSCRIBE to OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
PLEASE LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE and SUBSCRIBE to OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
