Earlier this year, the Office of the Data Protection Authority launched a competition across all Bailiwick schools to encourage Year 7 children to think carefully about how they share their personal information, and how to keep it safe.
The competition – run in conjunction with the Youth Commission and Resolution IT – was inspired by the increasing digitalization of the world experienced by children, with online content increasingly impacting, and shaping their decisions, choices and future lives.
The competition asked children to describe a superpower or super sense that would help them look after personal data.
Over 200 entries were received, and the ODPA was delighted with the engagement shown, as well as the creative ideas submitted by the children.
The Bailiwick of Guernsey’s Data Protection Commissioner Emma Martins commented: “Data and its protection matters to everyone in our society. When talking about these issues it is all too easy to talk about or at children. This competition allowed us to hear from them. It was both humbling and inspiring. So many entries stood out because they spoke of the need to protect everyone, not just themselves. They also reminded us of the profoundly human nature of this issue – that ‘data protection’ is simply ‘people protection’. Seeing the world through the eyes of children and young people reminds us to be hopeful, kind and inclusive.
“My heartfelt thanks to everyone who submitted the wonderful entries and very special congratulations to the winners and runners up.
“We are extremely grateful to Resolution IT for the generous prizes and to the Youth Commission and all the schools for their engagement and support.”
Overall winner Ellie from St Sampson’s High School wowed the judges with her simple but effective entry where she told us how she wanted a “super protection to protect all the people around the world”. This superpower would mean a world where everyone’s data would be safe, what a wonderful place to be!
Charlie from the Grammar School, won the creative award for his imaginative idea to use flying zebras to educate people. Education is a fundamental part of the ODPA’s values and statutory obligations, so Charlie’s entry was wonderful to see.
Resolution IT generously provided two laptops for the overall winner and creative award winner.
James Kelsh, Director of Information Security at Resolution IT commented: “Resolution IT is delighted to support the ODPA’s postcard competition. As a company specialising in information security, we know all too well how important it is to learn about data safety and your rights to privacy. We think it’s a fantastic initiative – I only wish I’d been taught more about data safety when I was in year 7! Many thanks to ODPA for inviting us to get involved in this project.”
Two runners up were also given prizes for their fantastic contributions: Luna from Les Beaucamps High School and Andrew from Elizabeth College.
The competition was part of the ODPA’s ongoing partnership with the Youth Commission and followed the distribution of a series of four themed postcards to students in their final term of Year 6 and first term of Year 7.
Known as Project Bijou Seeds, the ODPA’s schools programme aims to raise children’s awareness of their rights as well as their responsibilities to others.
It is part of the ODPA’s commitment, and statutory obligation, to promote greater public awareness of the rights people have under data protection law but also the risks in relation to personal data processing, especially when it involves children.
Pictured: Left to right -Back row: Michelle Turberville (Youth Commission), Rachel Masterton (ODPA), Pierre Jehan (Resolution IT); Front row: Ellie, Andrew, Luna.
