Feb 09 2011 |
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Yahoo Safely initiative extends to Qatar
DOHA: Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) and Qatar Academy, members of Qatar Foundation , and Yahoo! Inc., are collaborating to extend the Yahoo! Safely global initiative to Qatar, aimed at fostering safer online experiences for Qatari youth.In conjunction with Safer Internet Day, Yahoo! Safety Oasis, Yahoo Safely's localised online safety resource, was showcased yesterday at Qatar Academy.
"Education is our goal at Qatar Academy, but technology is our vehicle for arriving there," said Dr Samuel Liberto, head of IT and E-Learning for Qatar Academy. " Yahoo! Safety Oasis is our guarantee that the path to that end will be a clear and safe road."
Yahoo! Safety Oasis (http://esafe.yahoo.com/), which was developed by the Yahoo! Maktoob team, educates Arabic speaking children about how to properly surf the net and protect their personal privacy through a series of fun, interactive edu-tainment courses offered through a number of Yahoo! Maktoob channels such as Kids, Games, and Family links.
The global resource informs parents, educators and teens about important topics such as managing digital reputations, avoiding cyber-bullying, and learning how to minimise risks on mobile devices, as well as guidance on how to safely use specific Yahoo! products.
"While online traffic is increasing across the Middle East, awareness of online safety issues is relatively low in the region. And according to research we conducted in the region, an overwhelming majority of respondents said they are interested in learning more about internet safety for kids. This makes our programme very relevant and we feel that it will provide a valuable resource to educate youngsters on digital literacy as early as possible," said Andy Abbar, head of product marketing for Yahoo! Maktoob .
QCRI conducts multidisciplinary research in computer science and engineering that is relevant to the needs of Qatar and the wider Arab region. The institute also helps set national priorities for computing for Qatar.
"The digital world is our future, and our children need to feel safe and secure as they begin to negotiate the Internet," said Ahmed Elmagarmid, executive director of QCRI.
" Yahoo! Safety Oasis is an innovative way to enhance the online experiences of Qatar's youth. This joint venture with Yahoo! is perfectly aligned with our community service goals of setting a positive direction in computing for the young people of Qatar."
Yahoo! Safety Oasis has also teamed up with some of the region's leading organizations from both the private and public sectors who firmly believe in the importance of Internet safety and are committed to spreading this awareness in their countries.
"Online safety is a priority for Yahoo! and we are celebrating Safer Internet Day this year to help parents, educators and youth safeguard themselves and create positive and productive web experiences," said Catherine Teitelbaum, Yahoo! 's director of child safety and product policy. "Yahoo! Safely and Yahoo! Safety Oasis help address the online issues children around the world are facing today including mobile usage, cyber-bullying and digital reputation.
It's important that we take a proactive approach and work together as a global community to help foster a safer online experience for our children."
© The Peninsula 2011
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