Teaching Young People Cyber Safety is Her Life's Work: Meet Confidence Osein, Digital Tech Champion

Confidence Osein is an esteemed digital citizenship and cyber safety tech educator, with passion for empowering young people with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital landscape safely. With over two decades of experience in the tech space, Confidence is dedicated to integrating digital wellness and online safety into education.

What is your personal/professional story?

I am Confidence Osein , the founder of Internet Safe Kids Africa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering digitally connected youth across Africa. With certifications as a Digital Wellness Educator and Digital Wellness Champion from the esteemed Digital Wellness Institute in the USA, I have established myself as a leading advocate for digital safety and wellness.

My career, spanning over two decades, has been rooted in the tech space, where I’ve taken on roles that champion the safe and responsible use of technology. My contributions have been recognized globally, earning me the title of ‘DigCit Global Impactor’ from the Digital Citizenship Institute , USA, and receiving the Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise (Bronze) Award.

I have served on several influential bodies, including the Online Harm Prevention Work Group at Fairplay and the XRSI Child Safety Initiative , as well as being a research group member of the Center for AI and Digital Policy .

One of the greatest challenges I have faced is ensuring my work is recognized and valued. As a woman in tech, I have often had to prove my capabilities repeatedly in an industry that is not always welcoming. Despite these obstacles, I have remained resolute, making sure my voice and contributions are acknowledged. This resilience has been fundamental to my journey and fuels my ongoing advocacy for a safer digital landscape for young people in Africa.

What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?

Several key moments have led me to where I am today, but one very defining period was working in a cyber security consulting firm as the head of schools project on cyber security. This period tested me in various ways. Leading a team of young people who seamlessly integrate technology into their work and believe that work should be both productive and enjoyable, required a fresh approach to align with their unique work ethics. Navigating?the stigma of being a woman leading a team in a space predominantly occupied by men has also been difficult. I also grappled with a management?team that didn’t fully understand and share my vision of how technology was and?would impact the African child in the near future.

These experiences didn’t diminish the fact that my role was an eye-opener. Being in the field with students deepened my understanding of young people and their relationship with technology. I witnessed first hand how their lives were immersed in new and emerging technologies. They had little to no understanding of how to navigate and use these technologies ethically, often becoming victims of unhealthy technology use.

This?realization spurred me on to find ways to empower students to use technology responsibly. Unfortunately, my department was shutdown, and I was reassigned, but my experiences on the field with students had left a lasting impact on me. This was a very disturbing moment in my career, as I found it difficult to ignore all I had seen and experienced while in the field teaching students about thriving and navigating online spaces safely. I saw that the African child needed help—essential skills and competencies (being alert, informed, balanced, inclusive, and engaged) necessary for safe and meaningful online navigation were lacking, leaving them vulnerable in digital spaces.

This urgency to bridge the gap in necessary digital literacy and awareness led to my founding Internet Safe Kids Africa .

Where does your passion to serve come from?

My passion to serve is deeply rooted in my childhood experiences. Growing up I witnessed my parents’ struggles to provide us with education and a better life. This made me acutely aware of the challenges faced by other families and children around me who lacked similar opportunities. I saw first-hand how their circumstances limited their ability to pursue their dreams and aspirations. These early experiences shaped my perspective on life, driving me to dedicate myself to helping others, especially those facing similar struggles. As I grew older and started my own family, this commitment only deepened. Through various volunteer activities—such as empowering out-of-school children in underserved communities, teaching kids to read and write, mentoring young adults, and supporting family and friends—I have consistently focused on serving humanity, particularly young people who often inherit the challenges of their parents. My goal has always been to empower the less privileged to overcome obstacles and realize their full potential.

How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?

It is said that “together we are more”. GlobalMindED can play a huge role of helping connect my initiative ‘Internet Safe Kids Africa’ to a community of support and resources. Leveraging the teeming community of GlobalMindED’s industry experts and leaders we can create more impact, empower more young people in Africa and across the globe to use technology responsibly, thrive and navigate safely online.

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