Junior Achievement (JA) Africa has announced a major new partnership with Google.org to deliver digital literacy and online safety training to children, teachers, and parents across four African countries.
Supported by USD $1.5 million in funding, the initiative will roll out Google’s Be Internet Awesome (BIA) curriculum in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, reaching more than 250,000 children by 2027.
The programme responds to an urgent and growing need. As internet access surges across Sub-Saharan Africa, increasing numbers of children are going online without the essential skills to navigate digital spaces safely.
Research from Nigeria indicates that more than 70% of children aged 6–12 use the internet but lack basic online safety awareness — a pattern mirrored in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, where cyberbullying, harassment, and exploitation are widespread risks.
“As digital connectivity becomes the foundation of modern life in Africa, our children must be equipped not only to participate, but to be protected,”
said Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa.
“With funding from Google.org, we are helping young people turn access into opportunity, building a generation of smart, safe, and kind digital citizens.”
Teaching Children to Be Smart Explorers of the Digital World
Developed by Google, the Be Internet Awesome curriculum introduces children to key concepts of digital safety using interactive lessons and Interland, a gamified online experience that teaches privacy, cyberbullying prevention, and media literacy in a fun, age-appropriate way.
“At Google.org, we believe that every child should be able to explore the internet with confidence and care,”
said Alessia Scarpellini, Senior Program Manager for Child and Youth Safety and Digital Wellbeing at Google.org EMEA.
“By supporting JA Africa’s proven community-based model, we’re helping educators, caregivers, and young people across the continent build the skills to be safe, confident explorers of the online world.”
Large-Scale Delivery Across Schools and Communities
JA Africa will implement the programme through school-based workshops, teacher training sessions, and community outreach initiatives to ensure access for both urban and underserved rural communities. The rollout aligns with national child-protection and ICT-in-education strategies, including:
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Ghana’s National Child Online Protection Framework
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Nigeria’s Child Online Protection Policy and Strategy
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Kenya’s Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection
Key Targets for 2027
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250,000 children trained on online safety, digital citizenship, privacy, and cyberbullying
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6,000 teachers certified as BIA facilitators
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8,000 parents and caregivers empowered through workshops and digital learning modules
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Over 750,000 people reached directly and indirectly across four countries
Expanding Impact Through Awareness and Policy Integration
The programme will be amplified through digital storytelling campaigns, nationwide visibility drives, and flagship events such as Safer Internet Day 2026, ensuring that online safety messaging reaches millions more. JA Africa and Google.org will also partner with government ministries in education, ICT, and communications to embed digital safety content into school curricula and teacher training systems, ensuring long-term sustainability.
“This underscores the power of collaboration in safeguarding Africa’s future generation,”
Nwogugu added.
“When governments, educators, families, and the private sector work together, we can build a safer, more inclusive digital Africa for every child.”
