Centro Internet Segura organizes more than 600 activities across the country

As part of Safer Internet Day 2014, which was celebrated on February 11, the Safer Internet Center is promoting hundreds of activities in Portugal 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, so that they can safely benefit from the opportunities offered by the Internet. They also extend to other groups of the population, namely seniors and people with special needs, including various initiatives aimed at parents and educators.

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

The Safe Internet Center also promotes awareness and training initiatives with the support of local technicians from public libraries, city councils, 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 in activities across the country during this period.

The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) is promoting a national competition for young people up to the age of 30, which ends on February 19. To participate, simply produce a video of up to 60 seconds, referring to the theme of Safer Internet Day 2014 – "Together we can 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 Youth Hostels.

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