The Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) West Africa Affiliate has educated students at Kasoa Methodist Basic School “A” on safeguarding their digital footprint.

The school outreach, held under the theme “Your Digital Footprint, Own it, Protect it,” formed part of activities marking International Women’s Day and the affiliate’s community engagement programme.

Miss Elizabeth Bemah Amankwah, Events and Programs Lead of WiCyS West Africa, said the initiative aimed to raise awareness among young people about data privacy and online safety.

“When young people share personal information online, they risk identity theft, cyberbullying and unwanted attention,” she said, adding that even simple social media posts could leave a lasting digital footprint.

The outreach was executed by mentees from the Data Privacy Stream, who engaged students through interactive sessions on responsible online behaviour, privacy protection, and practical steps for setting social media privacy controls.

Topics included recognising sensitive personal information, protecting data from unwanted access, and understanding the importance of privacy both online and offline.

Students were encouraged to apply the knowledge and become “Privacy Champions” within their communities.

A “Privacy Champion” is defined as someone who actively advocates for protecting personal data shared on the internet.

Mrs Amma Dappah Oppong, Headmistress of the school, commended the initiative and urged students to apply the knowledge in their daily lives.

Portions of the presentation will feature in the students’ Information and Communication Technology mock exams to reinforce learning.

Madam Melody Eyram Azumah, a teacher and Cyber Champion, encouraged students to think carefully before sharing information, use strong passwords, review privacy settings regularly, and promote safe online practices among peers and family members.

The organisers expressed hope that the programme would inspire students to become advocates for data protection and raise awareness on safeguarding personal information in the digital space.

WiCyS, a non-profit established in 2012 by Dr Ambareen Siraj with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, promotes recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in cybersecurity.

WiCyS West Africa, based in Ghana, is part of the global network empowering women and enthusiasts in cybersecurity across countries including Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.