What is FISIC?

Finnish Safer Internet Centre (FISIC)

Finnish Safer Internet Centre is an EU-funded project run by the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency (Kuvi), Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) and Save the Children Finland (SCF).

The project aims for a better and safer media and internet environment, targeting children, young people, and adults. Special attention is given to those in vulnerable situations. The content emphasizes media literacy, internet safety, digital safety skills, mental health and well-being, cyberbullying, youth participation, young people’s rights on social media platforms, and other topical media phenomena.

Activities within the project include coordination of two national theme weeks: Media Literacy Week and Game Week, the administration of helpline and YouthNet -website by MLL, and the administration of hotline activities by SCF.

European cooperation

Insafe & INHOPE

FISIC is part of the European Insafe network, which focuses on media literacy and its promotion. FISIC is also part of the INHOPE (International Association of Internet Hotlines) network, which aims to remove material that contains evidence of sexual abuse against children from the internet. The project is funded by the European Commission’s Safer Internet programme and national funding.

Self-financing

50%

European Commission

50%

Promoting a safer internet

Our Goal:

Empower children, youth and adults to become more media literate

Media literacy is the ability to use, read, understand, interpret and critically evaluate different media content, as well as the skills to produce one’s own media. Media literacy is best promoted by investing in targeted media education. The goal is equal and inclusive media education, which pays particular attention to children and young people in vulnerable positions. FISIC coordinates theme weeks, promotes cooperation in the field, supports and trains professionals and families working in the field, produces materials and communicates widely on media literacy topics.

Secure the digital experiences of children and young people

A safe childhood in digital environments means, for example, the right to be protected from harmful and illegal content, behavior and contacts. The goal is to support the well-being of children and young people in an age-appropriate digital environment. The FISIC hotline (Nettivihje) service along with telephone and chat services aimed at children, young people and parents contribute to the realization of this goal. Active advocacy work ensures that the safety of children and young people is also taken into account in decision-making.

Promote youth participation

Children and young people are given the opportunity to actively and creatively participate in digital environments according to their age. Their views are respected and heard. In FISIC activities, media education is carried out from young people to young people in YouthNet (Nuortennetti) website and in schools through support student activities that promote a positive online culture. Young people produce content for YouthNet’s channels and peers respond online to other young people’s questions and concerns in the discussion forum. In addition, children and young people are involved in the development of the work, for example through workshops.

2024-2025

Numbers of the Project

300 +

MATERIALS

18900 +

TIPS VIA HOTLINE

18700 +

EDUCATED CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Contacts

Ella Airola

Finnish Arts and Culture Agency
Project Manager
ella.airola@kuvi.fi
+358 50 475 1279
www.kuvi.fi

Paula Aalto

Mannerheim League for Child Welfare
Program Manager
paula.aalto@mll.fi
+358 50 309 6229
www.mll.fi

Heidi Näppi

Save the Children Finland
Development Manager
heidi.nappi@pelastakaalapset.fi
+358 50 472 4831
www.pelastakaalapset.fi

Finnish Safer Internet Centre (FISIC) is a part of a Europe-wide collaboration aimed at promoting citizens’ media literacy, educators’ media education skills, and children’s safety and well-being.

Project Web Services

Kuvi – Media Literacy in Finland
Kuvi – Media Literacy School
Kuvi – Media Literacy Week
MLL – Helpline (only in Finnish and Swedish)
MLL – Media Education
MLL – YouthNet
MLL – For parents
SCF – Finnish hotline

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.