Vodafone Foundation today announced the expansion of its Skills Upload Jr (SUJ) programmes that have helped millions of young people across Europe develop the skills, confidence and resilience they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
As millions of children and young people return to school this September, Vodafone Foundation welcomes the European Commission's newly unveiled EU Kids Act, signalling a growing commitment to strengthening protections and support for children online.
For more than six years, Vodafone Foundation has championed digital education and digital wellbeing, particularly through schools, recognising that helping young people navigate an increasingly digital world requires both protection and empowerment. While online safety remains essential, children also need the skills, confidence, critical thinking and support to participate safely, responsibly and positively online.
To mark the start of the new school year, Vodafone Foundation and Save the Children are launching new digital wellbeing resources through the Skills Upload Jr (SUJ) programme, helping schools, teachers and families support children in Germany, Portugal, Greece, Romania, Albania and Türkiye.
The resources form part of the second year of the organisations' partnership to advance children's digital learning and wellbeing across Europe.
Developed as part of Vodafone Foundation's Digital Wellbeing Framework, the new resources include classroom activities, discussion guides and educational materials designed to help young people build healthy digital habits, strengthen critical thinking, develop confidence online and make informed choices about technology use. The materials also support teachers, parents and caregivers in having constructive conversations with children about their digital lives.
Since launch, SUJ has reached more than 10 million students and teachers, engaged more than 3,000 schools, helped establish over 200 technology and learning hubs, and generated 64.8 million views of educational content across Europe.
Research published by Vodafone Foundation earlier this year found that 30% of young people across Europe report frequently feeling stressed by being online, highlighting the need for practical support that helps children navigate both the opportunities and challenges of digital life.
During the last school year alone, SUJ directly reached more than 307,000 students and nearly 30,000 teachers, while digital learning platforms extended access to a further 190,000 students and 254,000 teachers.
Lisa Felton, Managing Director, Vodafone Foundation, said:
“We welcome the European Commission's growing focus on supporting and protecting children online. For many years, Vodafone Foundation has advocated for digital education and digital wellbeing to become a core part of how we prepare young people for the future, particularly through schools. While protection remains essential, children also need the skills, confidence and critical thinking to navigate digital environments successfully. Through Skills Upload Jr, and in partnership with Save the Children, we are helping schools, teachers and families turn that ambition into practical action. Six years on, the programme has now reached more than 10 million students and teachers across Europe.”
Gloria Placer, Head of European Programmes, Vodafone Foundation, said:
“Teachers and schools across Europe are looking for practical ways to support young people in an increasingly complex digital environment. The new digital wellbeing resources we are launching this year, together with Save the Children, build on six years of learning through Skills Upload Jr and help turn the concept of digital wellbeing into practical action. Together with our partners, we are helping more young people build the skills, resilience and confidence they need for the future.”
Jeffery Demarco, Senior Advisor, Protecting Children from Digital Harm, Save the Children UK, said:
“Children need more than protection from harm online. They need the skills, confidence and support to exercise their rights, make informed choices and participate, learn and connect in ways that support their wellbeing. Through our partnership with Vodafone Foundation, we are equipping children, families and educators with practical tools to build healthier, safer and more positive digital experiences, in the classroom and beyond.”
Local programme highlights
As part of this year's back-to-school activities, local Skills Upload Jr programmes across Europe are launching new initiatives, partnerships and learning opportunities:
Portugal: The local SUJ programme DigitALL begins the new school year with growing national recognition, including the High Endorsement of His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic and newly accredited teacher training programmes. The accreditation enables teachers to gain certified professional development credits while strengthening their ability to support students' digital literacy, citizenship and wellbeing.
Albania: Vodafone Foundation in Albania is launching the next phase of SUJ through its online educational platform DijaON, delivered in partnership with the British Council. The initiative will provide new digital learning opportunities for students and teachers through accredited educational content and strengthened local partnerships.
Germany: Coding For Tomorrow is expanding into additional regions, particularly in Eastern Germany, increasing access to digital learning opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Registrations from priority schools for this academic year's workshops have more than doubled to 80%.
Greece: Generation Next is expanding beyond the classroom through a series of Pop-Up Labs across five cities, bringing digital wellbeing, STEM and AI learning experiences directly into communities.
Romania: Școala din viitor is expanding through new partnerships and community activities. A new collaboration with the National Police School Safety Directorate will help bring digital wellbeing and online safety resources to schools across the country, while activities involving children and families promote positive digital habits.
Türkiye: Vodafone Foundation is launching a new digital wellbeing programme, My Digital Buddy, helping young people build healthier and more positive relationships with technology through locally adapted educational content and community-led delivery.
Supporting healthier digital childhoods
The new resources build on Vodafone Foundation and Save the Children's shared commitment to ensuring that children have both the protection and the skills they need to succeed in a digital world. Together, the organisations are supporting schools, educators and families with practical tools that help children navigate technology safely, positively and confidently.
Vodafone Foundation's Digital Wellbeing Framework recognises that helping children thrive online is a shared responsibility.
Digital wellbeing is about more than protecting young people from harm. It is about ensuring they have the skills, confidence, resilience and support needed to benefit from technology's opportunities while managing its challenges. Schools, families, policymakers, civil society organisations, technology companies and young people themselves all have a role to play.
Programme monitoring demonstrates the impact of this approach. Across participating schools, 99.7% of students improved their digital skills, while 97.9% strengthened competencies such as creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. Among teachers, 95.0% improved their digital capabilities and 95.4% reported improvements in their teaching practice.
Through Skills Upload Jr and its new Digital Wellbeing Framework, Vodafone Foundation aims to contribute to a wider European effort to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive in the digital age.
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