Influencers and Students Across Bulgaria Join Forces to Create a Safer Online Environment
Children from schools in Troyan, Svishtov, Golyam Izvor and Burgas came together to make the internet a better place for everyone
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How can we recognize online risks? How should we respond to cyberbullying? And how can each of us contribute to creating a more positive and safer digital space?
These were some of the questions that students from across Bulgaria explored through the School for Online Safety competition, part of the Steps Together programme implemented by UNICEF Bulgaria and the Ministry of Education and Science, with the support of Fantastico.
The aim of School for Online Safety was to encourage children and young people to develop innovative solutions based on their own experiences, while strengthening their digital safety skills, critical thinking, and responsible online behaviour and communication.
As part of the competition, students designed their own awareness campaigns to help their peers recognize online risks and build healthier online habits. The most impressive projects were awarded not only recognition, but also the opportunity to bring their ideas to life in their schools with UNICEF’s support.
Since the beginning of 2026, the UNICEF Bulgaria team, together with popular content creators and influencers, has visited the four finalist schools to support students in implementing their projects and to meet the young people and teachers behind these inspiring initiatives.
Conversations, Inspiration and Action
At Vasil Levski Secondary School in Troyan and Tsvetan Radoslavov Secondary School in Svishtov, students had the opportunity to meet some of Bulgaria’s most popular influencers, Stan and Stefi.
During open discussions, young people talked with them about social media, online behaviour, digital footprints, and the challenges they face every day online. The meetings gave students the opportunity not only to ask questions, but also to share personal experiences and ideas about how the online world can become safer for everyone.
Students from Vasil Levski Primary School in the village of Golyam Izvor received a special surprise visit from Eva Georgieva and Gogo. The meeting turned into an honest conversation about online responsibility, the power of positive role models, and the importance of young people becoming active creators of a positive digital environment.
At Georgi Benkovski Primary School in Burgas, students demonstrated how knowledge can be passed from one student to another. As part of their campaign, they designed and delivered an interactive lesson on online safety for younger students. Through engaging and accessible activities, the older students helped children learn how to recognize online risks and where to seek help when needed.
Each of the four schools chose a different approach, but all campaigns shared one common goal: to equip children and young people with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to become the change they want to see in their schools and to feel safer in the digital world.
The initiative demonstrated that when students are given the space to express their ideas and the support to turn them into reality, they can become powerful drivers of positive change both in school communities and online.
School for Online Safety is part of the Steps Together programme, implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science and made possible through the long-standing support of Fantastico Group. The programme helps schools create positive, safe and inclusive environments while strengthening children's ability to recognize and protect themselves from risks both at school and online.
*UNICEF does not endorse or promote specific brands, products or services.
