EU funded project in Estonia aims to make the internet safer for children

The EU funded project "Preventing children from becoming victims of sexual abuse online" in Estonia helps children to develop skills to navigate the digital world safely and confidently, using tools like an illustrated book, a board game, and training for educators and law enforcement.

The project has developed a first screen-free digital literacy kit, including the illustrated book Suur digiseiklus (The Great Digital Adventure). The book stands out as a fun and imaginative way for children to learn about online safety through stories and characters that feel close to their everyday lives. The book turns familiar digital situations like gaming, chatting, and sharing content into engaging adventures that children can easily relate to. Its playful approach helps them understand online safety, while keeping the experience entertaining and accessible.

The Great Digital Adventure Kit is available in every Estonian kindergarten with preschool groups, and the book is used in more than 350 schools across Estonia.

Beyond classroom materials, the initiative provides a training for educators and law enforcement. For instance, Estonian police officers had a specialised training, which included study visits to Finland and Denmark to exchange best practices on investigating cybercrimes involving minors.

The initiative also created a board game with which children can reinforce what they learned in the book.

More activities are planned, such as trainings for teachers across Estonia and events where children learn digital safety through games and workshops.

Led by the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board in partnership with the Estonian Union for Child Welfare, the initiative addresses online threats such as cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to harmful content. The project aims to strengthen digital resilience and promote safer online experiences through targeted support for children, parents, and teachers.

Before launching the initiative, Estonia commissioned a Kantor Emor (2023-2024) study to assess online risks for children and identify gaps in parental awareness. The findings show that 80% of parents see cyberbullying as a major concern and 74% consider sexual abuse as a high risk.

Project Information

Country: Estonia

Duration: 2023-2027

Total budget: EUR 750,000

Fund: Internal Security Fund (ISF) and national co-financing

Project website: Eesti laste digiturvalisuse projekt - Suur digiseiklus