On October 4, 2024, PESACO conducted a cyberbullying awareness session at Urafiki Secondary School in the Ubungo district of Dar es Salaam. Over 36 students (Form I-IV) participated in the session, which focused on among others the dangers of cyberbullying, how to identify it, how and where to report as well as the importance of online safety.
The session started with students working in groups to discuss cyberbullying and then presenting their findings to the larger group, helping facilitators assess their level of awareness. Advocate Catherine Oscar from PESACO followed with a detailed presentation that covered the definition, various forms, causes, impacts, and ways to address cyberbullying. Mr. Mfaume Hassan then explained the legal protections available against cyberbullying. Social Welfare Officer Madam Jacqueline Mallya from Ubungo Municipality offered advice on how to support victims, while Inspector of Police Judith Maimu from Tanzania Police Force Gender and Children's Desk concluded with practical steps for handling cyberbullying incidents. Each section included a Q&A, allowing students to interact with the experts and further their understanding of the issue.
PESACO encouraged students to be proactive in protecting their personal information and to report incidents of bullying to trusted adults, police, social welfare office, parents, guardians, teachers and to the local government authorities, wherever convenient.
The session started with students working in groups to discuss cyberbullying and then presenting their findings to the larger group, helping facilitators assess their level of awareness. Advocate Catherine Oscar from PESACO followed with a detailed presentation that covered the definition, various forms, causes, impacts, and ways to address cyberbullying. Mr. Mfaume Hassan then explained the legal protections available against cyberbullying. Social Welfare Officer Madam Jacqueline Mallya from Ubungo Municipality offered advice on how to support victims, while Inspector of Police Judith Maimu from Tanzania Police Force Gender and Children's Desk concluded with practical steps for handling cyberbullying incidents. Each section included a Q&A, allowing students to interact with the experts and further their understanding of the issue.PESACO encouraged students to be proactive in protecting their personal information and to report incidents of bullying to trusted adults, police, social welfare office, parents, guardians, teachers and to the local government authorities, wherever convenient.
The workshop also provided students with tips on digital security and responsible online behavior, ensuring they have the tools to navigate the internet safely. At the conclusion of the session, both the teachers and students made a collective commitment to passing on the valuable knowledge they had gained. They pledged to take the lessons learned and share them with their peers, ensuring that the message about cyberbullying and online safety continued to spread throughout the school. Teachers and students agreed to organize discussions and awareness activities within school clubs and use morning assemblies as platforms to address these important topics. This initiative aimed to foster a culture of awareness, responsibility, and support among the entire school community, ensuring that cyber safety remained a central focus and that the conversation around it would remain active and ongoing.
PESACO would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Urafiki Secondary School for its active participation and support. Your willingness to allow PESACO to engage with your students has contributed to raising awareness and empowering young people to protect themselves and others online.