Globally, The Walt Disney Company has supported internet safety and digital citizenship grants which further the work of charitable organizations who educate, provide tools for children, youth, parents educators and others regarding the responsible use of technology and how to stay safe online.
In Europe, there have been three charities which Disney has supported with online safety grants:
- Childnet –United Kingdom
Childnet’s education and outreach work develops digital safety skills in children age 3-19 years, to reduce the chances of them being upset or harmed on the internet. A key part of this work is empowering parents and teachers with the skills and confidence to prevent and respond to online risks. This project addresses these needs by delivering a range of resources and activities: education sessions for children, parents and teachers; engagement in awareness-raising campaigns such as Safer Internet Day; promotion of storybooks, games and online resources for children; parent advice; and dissemination of resources for teachers to use in the classroom.
- fragFINN eV -Germany
The website fragFINN.de offers children their own space on the Internet where they can surf, chat and play safely. Behind fragFINN is an extensive list of Internet websites that are both interesting and safe for children. Before a website is added to this “whitelist”, a team of media educators checks it against a set of strict criteria, ensuring that children have access only to websites suitable for them. As a “smaller version” of the Internet, fragFINN offers children content that is entertaining, exciting, fun, informative –and above all age-appropriate. But the safe surfing area is big enough to offer something for every child. In this way, fragFINN helps children pursue their interests over the full length and breadth of the Internet and learn how to use the medium responsibly and on their own.
- Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) – United Kingdom
IWF is creating a safer internet by providing a secure and confidential mechanism (IWFHotline) for internet users to report criminal content that they encounter online. Working with our partners to raise awareness of the importance and ease of reporting online criminal content ensures that the IWF continues to provide a valuable service to internet users around the globe. IWF is a partner of the UK Safer Internet Centre (SIC) along with Childnet International and South West Grid for Learning.