We started even before we had “officially” started! As the CHI Team – and many of our wonderful members and incredible partners – began to gather in Livingstone, workshops and presentations were already underway on “Day Zero”! Afrooz Kaviani Johnson, (Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF NY HQ) and the CHI Team opened the morning’s discussion, talking about how to address the growing challenge of online harms affecting children and young people. We were incredibly proud to partner with UNICEF for this, also with support from the Global Cybersecurity Forum.
We rounded off Day 0 with good food, great company, and even greater purpose. With a heartfelt thanks to the generous support of GSMA, we were able to bring together representatives from over 80 countries on the arrival evening to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas on how we can better protect children around the world. This dinner was the perfect space for informal conversations and real-world insights, and it was incredible to see such energy and dedication in one space! It made us even more excited to officially kick off the 11th International Consultation of Child Helplines the next day.