#SafeNet

The project #SafeNetwork (#BezpečnáSieť) addresses the critical and growing issue of online abuse facing Roma youth in Slovakia. The primary challenges include cybergrooming, sexting, and the loss of control over personal data and private photographs.

Context and Target Group Relevance

The project specifically targets young Roma people, with a particular focus on teenage girls. This group is identified as being at a significantly higher risk of exploitation and privacy loss in the digital space. In many marginalized communities, there is a widespread practice of sharing provocative or intimate content without a full realization of the potential risks or long-term consequences. This vulnerability is intensified by the high degree of social exclusion in the regions of Eastern and Central Slovakia where these youth reside.

Causes of the Problem

According to the sources, the main causes of these challenges are:

• Low Digital Literacy: A lack of essential skills to navigate the internet safely.
• Absence of Prevention: A critical shortage of educational programs tailored to the specific needs of marginalized communities. Limited Access to Information: Roma youth often lack access to reliable, trustworthy information about their digital rights and online safety.

Broader Societal Challenges

Beyond immediate online safety, the project responds to systemic issues such as the digital divide and structural inequalities. In a society marked by increasing polarization and a decline in trust in democratic institutions, marginalized groups often lack the "authentic voice" needed to participate in public discourse about their own protection.

By addressing these issues through a peer-to-peer approach, the project aims to strengthen mental health, wellbeing, and self-esteem among youth who have previously lacked the tools to defend their digital boundaries.

The project #SafeNetwork (#BezpečnáSieť) aims to strengthen the digital safety competencies and awareness of young Roma people in Slovakia, with a particular focus on teenage girls who are at higher risk of online abuse, grooming, and sexting. The core strategy is to empower 12 young Roma leaders (aged 16–23) through training and mentoring to become peer educators and facilitators in their own communities.

Main Activities and Direct Outputs

The project is structured into several interconnected phases:

• Training of Leaders (Months 1–4): The primary activity is the selection and intensive 4-day training of 12 leaders in digital rights, facilitation skills, and project management.
  • Direct Output: 12 trained youth facilitators equipped to lead educational sessions.
• Peer-to-Peer Workshops (Months 5–10): These leaders deliver interactive workshops in schools and community centers across the Prešov, Košice, and Banská Bystrica regions.
  • Direct Output: Methodological manual (Open Educational Resource) and at least 300 young participants directly educated in safe online behavior.
• National Digital Campaign (Months 12–18): A social media campaign (Instagram, FaceBook, YouTube) created and led by the young leaders to promote digital rights and safety.
  • Direct Output: At least 20 unique educational videos and outreach to over 10,000 people.
• Advocacy and Dissemination (Months 18–24): Public engagement through media and a final event to present project results.
  • Direct Output: 3 advocacy outputs (two press releases and one public online discussion) and a final impact report.

The project #SafeNetwork (#BezpečnáSieť) aims to enhance digital safety and rights for Roma youth in Slovakia, specifically targeting teenage girls at high risk of online abuse, cybergrooming, and sexting.

Expected Results and Outcomes

• Empowered Leadership: 12 young Roma leaders will gain advanced skills in digital safety, facilitation, and project management, serving as active community ambassadors even after the project ends.
• Direct Educational Impact: At least 300 youth from marginalized communities will participate in peer-led workshops. It is expected that 75% of them will show measurable improvements in self-confidence and knowledge regarding online risks.
• Public Awareness: A youth-led national campaign on Instagram and FaceBook will reach over 10,000 people, providing authentic information on digital rights.
• Sustainable Resources: The creation of an open-source methodological manual and digital educational package will allow schools and NGOs to replicate the workshops long-term.
• Institutional Growth: Divé maky will establish a proven, replicable model for youth-led participation and leadership within Roma communities.

Beneficiaries

1. Primary Group: 12 Roma leaders (aged 16–23) from the applicant's mentoring program who will lead the educational activities.
2. Secondary Group: At least 300 youth (aged 12-15) from marginalized communities in the Prešov, Košice, and Banská Bystrica regions who participate in workshops at schools.
3. Wide Youth Public: A broad digital audience (aged 12–30) across Slovakia reached via the social media campaign.
4. Multipliers: Pedagogues, youth workers, and local municipalities who will benefit from the shared methodologies and final impact report.

The project fosters a safe environment for discussing taboo topics, ultimately strengthening community trust and social inclusion.