The Explore Your Echo team, consisting of Daniela Fundaro, Anna Ignacio, Ana Milic, Naveed Salek Nejad and supervised by the workshop’s co-creators Safia Boufalaas and Emma-June Huebner, successfully launched the Explore Your Echo workshop series this spring. The workshops aim to empower young minds with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital realm safely. Designed to engage students in conversations about cyberviolence, online safety, and well-being, the team visited three primary schools and three secondary schools, reaching over 600 students.
During these workshops, the team facilitated numerous difficult and challenging conversations. Students openly discussed their experiences and concerns about cyberviolence, including cyberbullying, online harassment, and other forms of digital experiences. The team observed that many students were eager to share their stories but often lacked the proper outlets to do so. These discussions underscored the critical need for safe and supportive environments where young people can express their thoughts and fears without judgment.
The workshops by providing students with tools to navigate online hate and report issues when they arise, have significantly enhanced their ability to navigate the digital realm safely. The feedback from students and teachers reinforces the importance of creating more opportunities for such conversations in educational settings, ensuring that young people feel heard and supported in their digital interactions.
Overall, these workshops were a great success and impacted far beyond just the students within the schools we visited. Emma and Safia also gave a presentation at the School Climate board, which is likely to lead to future projects. This reinforces the idea that this project does not end here and will continue into future endeavors.