The Movement of the First launches the "School of CyberSecurity" to shape a generation of digital defenders

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The Movement of the First, together with the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, has launched the nationwide project "School of CyberSecurity". The opening ceremony was held at the International Forum of Civic Participation #WEARETOGETHER in the "Space of Opportunities" venue at the National Centre RUSSIA.

"The Movement of the First has been implementing educational activities on cyber security for three years. Participants learn to protect personal data, recognise phishing and behave safely on social media. The 'School of CyberSecurity of the Movement of the First' is a new project. It has been developed by members of the Federal Council of the First together with industry experts and will cover a wide age group — from 6 to 25. The project will bring together our best practices and relevant formats. Most importantly, the school will provide systematic knowledge, self-protection tools and will form a community of young people who will share their knowledge with their peers," said Hero of Russia, participant of the presidential programme "Time of Heroes" and Chair of the Board of the Movement of the First, Artur Orlov.

At the presentation of the project "School of CyberSecurity of the Movement of the First", representatives of law enforcement agencies and the All-Russian Children's Directorate of the project spoke about the formation of a new movement of cyber volunteers.

"Children are the key to effective cyber security, because they understand the digital environment better than we do and can explain its nuances in an accessible way. The problem is real: the internet is full of threats, like a 'dark alley'. Mass support from volunteers is very important for us, as they will help raise basic digital literacy. It is also important that children themselves take part in the 'School of CyberSecurity of the Movement of the First'. They will be able to explain to their peers, in a simple and accessible way, how to deal with real cyber threats. They will also be able to explain online safety to their grandparents, who are vulnerable and often become victims of cybercriminals. Our task is to teach young people to recognise these threats and act quickly to protect themselves and their families," said Senior Detective of the 3rd Department of the Cybercrime Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Police Captain Ilya Elyasov.

The nationwide project "School of CyberSecurity" is a comprehensive initiative that combines a full educational course on cyber security and cyber volunteering with active practical work. The project is designed to develop in children and young people aged 6 to 25 sustainable knowledge, competencies and practical skills for safe and responsible behaviour in the digital environment.

A participant of the Movement of the First from the Kursk region, Daniil, expressed his readiness to begin training and join the ranks of cyber volunteers.

"I believe that helping others and being a cyber volunteer is extremely important today. With constantly growing digital threats and fraud, we, as the younger generation, cannot remain on the sidelines. If you have knowledge about online safety, it becomes your duty — you must share it with others, teach them to recognise risks and protect themselves. This is our collective contribution to raising digital literacy and creating a safe online environment for everyone," said Daniil.

Polina from the Bryansk region, one of the participants in the project, is also ready to join the cyber volunteer movement.

"I am ready to become a cyber volunteer to help people stay safe. Now, when neural networks are so advanced, fraudsters can easily fake a person's face or voice, making deception incredibly easy. Understanding these new, sophisticated threats strengthens my determination to act. I want to be part of a team that helps people recognise such scams and protect themselves and their loved ones in the digital space," noted Polina.

To join the "School of CyberSecurity of the Movement of the First", participants must register on the platform киберволонтеры.будьвдвижении.рф starting from February 2026. After registration, each participant completes an online course, studying theoretical materials and completing tasks; upon completion, a certificate is issued. This is followed by a stage of practical assignments, where participants apply the knowledge they have gained within their age category and accumulate points. The best participants, based on the results of selection, are given the opportunity to join the cyber training ground for intensive practical sessions. The project concludes with a final event, where top participants present their projects at the Russian Internet Forum (RIF) and the youth centre SHUM. The most successful graduates may become project ambassadors, join the All-Russian Children’s Directorate and continue developing the cyber volunteer community.

Participants of the "School of CyberSecurity of the Movement of the First" receive both basic and advanced knowledge of cyber security and cyber hygiene, acquire practical skills for responsible online behaviour and personal data protection. The project fosters critical thinking, media literacy and the ability to apply knowledge in real online projects, develops teamwork and leadership skills, and provides valuable experience in public speaking and project presentation. Participants learn to analyse digital threats and make effective decisions in complex situations.

The project also builds an active cyber community of the Movement of the First, bringing together like-minded friends from across Russia and creating opportunities for communication with leading experts in the digital field. It also lays the foundation for future career orientation by offering visits to major digital companies, opportunities to receive targeted admissions to universities and placements with partner IT companies. Additional benefits include participation in major events, as well as the accreditation of certified hours on the platforms Dobro.rf and "Drugoe Delo" ("Another Matter") for completing practical assignments. Alongside the main course, the project also includes a series of additional activities, such as game sessions and "Cyber Quizzes of the First". These interactive events began on 27 November at the Russian State Library for Young Adults and will reach more than 5,000 participants across the country.

The "School of CyberSecurity" is implemented with substantial expert support from the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.

Project partners include: the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, the Innovation Promotion Foundation, the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, the Dobro.rf ecosystem, the Presidential Platform "Russia – Land of Opportunity", PJSC VimpelCom, and the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute ‘Integral’".