Parents Empowered Through Digital Parenting & Online Safety Training in Bugesera

Elias Hakizimana Mar 29, 2025Mar 29, 2025 0 Comments

By Elias HAKIZIMANA

On March 28, 2025, the Internet Society Rwanda Chapter (ISOC Rwanda) successfully concluded a two week-long digital parenting and online safety training at G.S Nyirarukobwa in Bugesera District.

The training aimed to equip parents with essential knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world while ensuring their children’s safety online.

The training attracted 107 parents who participated in group sessions focused on practical digital skills for both personal and family safety. The Head Teacher of G.S. Nyirarukobwa, Theophile Nkundingabo, welcomed parents and officials at the closing ceremony, expressing gratitude for the initiative.

He emphasized the importance of creating a safe digital environment for children and outlined how the training was a response to parents’ increasing interest in digital technology around school facilities.

“We introduced this initiative to train parents on digital parenting, with a focus on children’s online safety. Over two weeks, we’ve trained parents on responsible internet use, and we’re excited about the progress,” said Nkundingabo.

**Theophile Nkundingabo – Head Teacher of G.S. Nyirarukobwa, welcomes parents and officials at the closing ceremony of the digital parenting training in Bugesera.**

Parents share their testimonies

The training proved to be an invaluable resource for many parents. Patrice Nshimiyimana, a local vegetable farmer, and parent, shared how the training improved his ability to utilize his smartphone for farming purposes.

“The skills I learned are crucial for expanding my farming business. I can now use my smartphone to access vital agricultural information. We also learned how to ensure our children’s privacy online and guide them according to their age,” he explained.

Nshimiyimana expressed hope that such training would expand to reach more parents in future initiatives.

**Patrice Nshimiyimana – A local vegetable farmer and parent, shares how the training helped him use his smartphone for farming and improve online safety for his children.**

“I have two children at G.S. Nyirarukobwa. Before the training, many parents didn’t know how to use smartphones productively. We were trained on the best smartphone practices, such as storing contacts on emails for easy access even if we lose our phones. This is essential for both us and our children. We also learned how to use online services like Irembo, and we are now better equipped to guide our children through safe internet practices,” said Nshimiyimana.

Jeannine Umuhoza, another parent, shared her experience of learning how to deal with online challenges such as being added to WhatsApp groups without consent.

“The training addressed these issues and gave us the tools to manage our children’s online presence. I fully support Patrice’s suggestion for additional sessions,” she said.

Jeanne Mukarugwiza, a mother of two, mentioned how the training had empowered her to protect her children while they navigate the internet. “Before this training, we struggled to access online services, but now we can request digital services on Irembo ourselves. We are grateful to ISOC Rwanda and the school for offering this valuable opportunity,” she said.

Remarks by key figures

Emmanuel Mfitumukiza, Chairperson of ISOC Rwanda, praised the success of the training, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between ISOC Rwanda and local schools.

“This training has met its objectives. Internet is an infrastructure that can transform lives positively. Our goal is to help you use the internet as a solution, not a problem,” he said.

**Emmanuel Mfitumukiza – Chairperson of ISOC Rwanda, speaks about the success of the training and the positive potential of the internet for families.**

Albert Niyigena, Bugesera District’s Officer for Nursery, Primary Education, and Adult Literacy, was the guest of honor at the ceremony. He highlighted the significance of the training in unlocking development opportunities for the parents.

“This training is key to opening doors to new opportunities in various sectors, including agriculture. It complements children’s digital literacy training and is essential for both parents and children to navigate the online world safely,” Niyigena stated.

As the digital world continues to evolve, initiatives like the ISOC Rwanda’s Digital Parenting and Online Safety Training play a vital role in empowering communities to harness the benefits of technology safely.

The parents who participated in the training are now better equipped to protect their children and make the most of the digital tools available to them in their everyday lives. The collaboration between ISOC Rwanda and G.S. Nyirarukobwa is a step toward creating a safer and more informed digital environment for both parents and children in Bugesera District.