This project aims at fostering a safe online presence in Cameroon by empowering the citizens with necessary resources to permit them face the challenges of modern day cyber crime in our cyber space. Emphasis will be put on joint action and community collaboration in order to respond to any criminal action identified. We will be using ICT (Web 2.0) platforms, including and not limited to website, blogs, VOIP, social networks, micro blogging applications, Video/audio conferences applications, Youtube, Flickr,audio-visual materials, SMS applications,TV etc. to sensitize, mobilize and arm the citizens for this purpose. Our actions will be centered towards three elements: Learn, Understand and Share. For the past months, seminars and conferences have been organized to create an awareness on the issue of cyber crime as a whole. Presently, we are working on the field to map out a network of cyber cafés in some major towns in Cameroon (Douala, Buea, kumba, Bamenda) in order to have a clear view of the various hot spots criminals use frequently. A network has been put in place to coordinate this activity. Simultanoeusly,we are designing a website to host online activities.
Vision: The vision of this project is to foster a safe online presence in Cameroon. Emanating from the fact that the negative impact of cyber crime has provoked a state of insecurity in our cyber space; youths are exploited daily by online criminals… the vision of this project is to change this state of insecurity to a more secure one. Conventionally, criminals must be tracked down for a city to be secured; our vision is special in the sense that we prefer to arm the citizens to anticipate the criminals and face the challenges involved instead of running after them.
Objectives: Create awareness on online safety in particular and the online world in general Reduce the number of cyber crime victims in Cameroon.
Goals: Meet face to face with at least 20.000 youths nationwide, to brief them on the mechanisms used by cyber criminals and how to stay safe online. Mobilize 10.000 or more citizens online through social networks and build their capacity to face the challenges of modern day cyber crime
ICT is used to communicate, empower citizens and share information through (Online blogging, social networking, email campaigning, training, mobilization, production of audio visual materials, running of pools online, and training sessions using powerpoint slides ) Why?: We are using ICT because it is affordable, accessible to the majority of beneficiaries and because it is the medium involved.
Youths, Women, Men Youth (students in colleges and higher institutions) These are youths between 17-33 years. There are those who regularly visit the internet in search of services and opportunities to explore. This category of citizens is considered to be the leaders of Tomorrow. Some of these youths are found in state institutions in the sectors of administration, education, justice, defense etc. At the completion of their studies, they will be given responsibilities in the public sector. We will be carrying out a nation wide campaign to meet in a face to face briefing with them, online blogging and social networking. For those in higher institutions, seminars will be organized to train them on the issue of cyber criminology and online safety
Men/Women: This group is made up of those already working in the public service; the police, civil servants, lawyers etc. Audio visual materials developed from seminars will be distributed to them for office use. We will also reach them through online resources in our website, fan page in Facebook and SMS.
1. Seminars organized in two universities (one in Douala University and the other in Buea) 2. Organized a press conferences on the issue of cyber crime in Douala 3 Organized a seminar to empower Journalists on the issue of cyber crime. 4. Invited to talk on DBS TV as co panelist with Dr Mounkari from the University of Douala on the Cameroon Cyber Safety Program
Mile stones: We are planning to:
• Hold a meeting to evaluate the success of project as of now
• Design a website and set up the various web 2.0 applications that will permit us mobilize citizens and other resources online
• Hold a series of seminars and workshops to empower Journalists, Youths etc on the issue of cyber crime
• Meet face to face with youths nation wide to brief them on online safety mechanisms
• Set up a committee to start working on our journal
• Produce and distribute the DVDs of the seminars
4Signed partnership contracts with other organizations and some media houses (Dynamic FM, partnership Cameroon, Environment sans frontiers ESF, Radio Bonne Nouvelle…)
