About This Course

This course is designed for adult community members, parents, family members, guardians, teachers and the like who engage with or support minors around their Wikimedia activities. Whether you are a mentor, event organizer, or contributor who interacts with young people, this course is tailored to help you understand and address the needs and challenges that minors face when participating in Wikimedia projects and the broader movement, both online and in-person. Adults play a crucial role in fostering a safe and supportive environment for young Wikimedians. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to protect and support minors effectively. This includes understanding the risks they may encounter, learning best practices, and knowing how to respond to and report concerns or incidents.

By the end of it, you will be able to:

• Identify and manage common risks that young users face online and offline, including privacy concerns, harmful contact, harassment, and safety threats.
• Learn about the holistic approach to security
• Understand the specific responsibilities when working with minors on Wikimedia websites.
• Communicate effectively with minors about their safety as they engage with the Wikimedia movement and websites.
• Know where to find help and support within the Wikimedia movement if you encounter issues or have questions about safety for minors.

The course was developed by the Wikimedia Foundation's Human Rights Team, with thoughtful input and review from Wikimedia community members who have deep experience supporting youth engagement and safety. We are grateful for their insights, which helped shape the content and approach of this course.