Empowering kids’ digital resilience: how an online safety project funded by CIRA is making a difference – CIRA

The curriculum package they developed is here: www.sfu.ca/cec/featured-reads/resources.html

Faculty at Simon Fraser University (SFU) Surrey – TD Community Engagement Centre in British Columbia […] developed their Empower MEdia project.

The Centre has a longstanding relationship with the Surrey School District, working in partnership to develop programming that meets specific local needs, especially for youth and newcomers to Canada.

Teachers and staff in the district identified a need to address digital citizenship in their students: using the internet positively, responsibly and safely. This was brought to the forefront during the pandemic when students were required to engage more with technology. Rachel applied for a CIRA Net Good Grant in 2022 to develop a new digital citizenship program alongside the Surrey School District Community School’s Partnership Department. The result was Empower MEdia, a free after-school program for Surrey students in grades 5-7.