Yettel and Ana Ivanović on Child Protection in the Digital World

Belgrade, November 1, 2024 - At the Digital Literacy and Protection from Digital Violence event, UNICEF Ambassador Ana Ivanović talked to elementary school students in Serbia about their digital skills and highlighted the importance of protecting children online.

„Growing up online offers boundless opportunities. When used responsibly, the Internet empowers children to have fun, learn, and connect socially. However, it also increases their exposure to numerous risks”, Ivanović noted.

This event is part of Yettel and UNICEF's Bridging the Digital Divide and Safe Internet for the Whole Family initiatives, which are being implemented in 30 schools across Serbia. These projects have established learning clubs and digital technology libraries. In addition to financial support, free internet access has been provided on 2,200 SIM cards for the next two years.

Students and teachers from 4 primary schools in Serbia have highlighted key challenges in advancing their digital skills, citing limited equipment, high training costs, and a shortage of qualified teaching staff.

„UNICEF is a trusted partner to the education system. Digital technologies alone won’t result in better learning outcomes unless students and teachers develop the proper digital skills to use them effectively. Our partnership with Yettel is crucial – by working together, we can help our students become digitally literate and prepared for life in the 21st century, which is an investment in the development of society as a whole”, said Deyana Kostadinova, UNICEF Director in Serbia.