Google Awards $2.4 Million for Youth Digital Safety
The funding supports digital citizenship training for millions of children across the Middle East and North Africa.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Youth
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Google.org has pledged $2.4 million to INJAZ Al-Arab to provide digital safety and online citizenship training to over 2.3 million young people. The four-year initiative targets children aged seven to thirteen across nine countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Why it matters
This initiative aims to empower youth with the essential skills required to navigate technology consciously and safely. It builds upon existing digital literacy programs to address the needs of younger internet users in a rapidly changing online environment.
The grant funds a curriculum serving children aged 7 to 13 across nine nations. Program projections indicate the initiative will impact 2.3 million young people over the next four years.
The players
Google.org
This is the philanthropic arm of Google that focuses on providing funding and resources to non-profit organizations globally.
INJAZ Al-Arab
This is a regional non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth in the Middle East and North Africa on work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.
The details
The program provides hands-on digital literacy training through the Abtal Al Internet curriculum, which originally launched in Arabic in 2018. Additionally, Google opened a temporary Abtal Al Internet Pop-Up Playground at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai to demonstrate parental control features to families.
Timeline
The Abtal Al Internet curriculum launched in Arabic in 2018.
YouTube launched the standalone YouTube Kids app in 2021.
YouTube introduced new Kid and Teen accounts earlier in 2026.
Google operates a Pop-Up Playground in Dubai from October 24-25, 2026.
Culture Shift
This investment highlights a shift toward prioritizing digital literacy and parental oversight as standard components of modern childhood. The initiative complements the recent rollout of YouTube Kid and Teen accounts by providing the educational training necessary for youth to navigate online platforms.
Families in the participating regions can access hands-on training to better understand and utilize parental control features on Google products. These tools allow parents to set age-appropriate restrictions and manage their child's digital experience more effectively.
The takeaway
Parents should regularly review and adjust the settings on their children's devices to match their developing maturity levels. Utilizing built-in parental controls provides a essential safety layer as young users explore online platforms.
Further reading
For more information on digital safety, visit the Youth section.
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