Palau Students Tackle Cyberbullying, Online Safety at Youth Forum
By Faith Chen
KOROR, Palau — When Mirang Subediang stood before a room of 60 middle school students to share her experience with cyberbullying, she had one message: “It is okay to speak up about these issues and take action.”
Her testimony set the tone for the Digital Smart Squad forum, held Sept. 17 at Palasia Hotel. The youth-led event, themed Youth for Youth: Digital Smart Squad Unite, brought together eighth graders from 15 of Palau’s 16 elementary schools for a day of workshops on cyberbullying, online grooming, and safe digital behavior.
Organizers — including the UN Micronesia Palau Office, UNICEF North Pacific, and several Palau government ministries — said the goal was to give students the tools to protect themselves and their peers in an increasingly digital world.
The program mixed presentations with interactive “vibe checks” and live surveys. For many, the most powerful moment came when Subediang, who also served as emcee, told her story of being bullied online in her elementary years.
“One of the most impactful moments was listening to Ms. Subediang’s story,” said Amanda Shiro, who represented the school health sector. “Her courage was both heartfelt and inspiring, and it strengthened my motivation to continue addressing the rising challenges of the digital world.”
Students said the forum helped them see the dangers — and solutions — more clearly.
“It helped raise awareness to the youth about how to prevent online grooming or cyberbullying,” said Hanna Ruluked, an eighth grader from Meyuns Elementary School. “This could help a lot of kids in the future as technology and media is quickly advancing.”
Her classmate, Aries Kikuo of Koror Elementary School, called the event “a smart way to spread awareness of staying safe online and ensuring that our data is kept safe.”
Subediang said she hoped her openness gave students strength, not only to seek help if they were victims, but also to change if they had harmed others.
“I wanted them to know that they are not alone, and that there are people and resources they can turn to,” she said. “But I also wanted them to understand that even if they are the ones causing the harm, there is still hope in them becoming better people.”
Organizers said the Digital Smart Squad forum is part of a continuing effort to promote safe and responsible digital citizenship among Palau’s youth.
