Fifteen girls from different schools took part in a Cyber Safety Co-Design program in Nuku’alofa from July 31 to August 8. The program targeted cyber safety initiatives for young women and girls in Tonga and the Pacific region.

The aim of the program was to increase the safe participation of young women online using co-design, which was carried out by facilitators from Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) in partnership with the Talitha Project and funded by the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development.

The girls aged 15-19 years learned the co-design process in which designers, subject experts, stakeholders and key users work together “to uncover the users’ lived experience of an issue, define problems and co-create a solution.”

This 2019 Cyber Safety program targeted cyber safety initiatives for young women and girls in Tonga and the Pacific region.

Angela Davis and Bonnie Graham, the program facilitators appreciated the creativity and insights from the young women.

"The girls really understood the design process and were excited to take away co-design activities that they can use, as well as a deeper understanding of online issues in their communities."

Lea Siliva Tu’ipulotu (16) from Kolofo’ou said it is very important for Pacific girls to be aware of cyber safety because for this generation, technology is very dominant in our community and country.

She said social media is the source of communication for people these days, especially young teenagers.

"It has both positive and negative aspects but it all depends on the way we choose to use our social media apps. If we use our different social media platforms in negative ways, it will bring a bad influence to other people. For example, if we choose to bully people online, whether it is by sharing explicit images, conversations or any types of information. This will have a very bad influence on the victim and this will affect their personal self- esteem, image and daily life."

Lea said, young Pacific Women not only have to be aware of cyber bullying and cyber safety but they have to be part of the solution and this starts with their personal decision to use their social media platforms wisely and use it in a way that will bring a positive influence to the people around them.

Meanwhile, cyber bullying is one of the key issues Talitha Project is working towards protecting girl’s dignity online.

These innovative ideas will continue to be developed into a single concept and tested by participants for ongoing prototyping, and the ultimate culmination of this collaboration will be presented at the Pacific Women Regional Stakeholders Meeting in Fiji in September, 2019. 

The Cyber Safety program was designed to work with existing cyber safety frameworks including Tongan Government’s ‘Stop. Think. Connect’ initiative, the Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network, Cyber Security Pasifikaand Talitha Project & Digicel 2018 campaign Stop, Block, Tell.