How Can We Better Protect Minors From Cyber Threats? An European Initiative Is Coming to Polish Schools

Cyberbullying, phishing, online grooming and threats linked to artificial intelligence are becoming a growing challenge not only for young internet users, but also for schools, teachers and the Police. A new European project, Cybersecure Mission, aims to support more effective prevention by using an interactive educational game and accompanying materials that will also be used in Poland.

The project is aimed at children and young people aged 10–16. At its centre is the RAYUELA game, which allows young users to learn about digital threats and make decisions in a safe, virtual environment.

However, the game is not intended to replace prevention activities carried out by adults. It will form part of a broader educational package designed to help teachers, Police officers and prevention specialists discuss online safety, responsible behaviour on the internet and the consequences of young people's decisions.

The project coordinator’s unofficial motto.

Building on experience from Portugal

Cybersecure Mission builds on the results of the earlier European research and innovation project RAYUELA and on the experience gained through the Portuguese Missão Cibersegura programme, led by Polícia Judiciária.

In Portugal, the programme has already reached more than 25,000 children and young people, involved over 600 schools, and engaged more than 3,500 teachers, law enforcement officers and prevention professionals.

The initiative has also received recognition at European level, including the Europol Excellence Award in Innovation 2025 and second place in the European Crime Prevention Award 2025.

The experience gained in Portugal will now support the further development of the programme and its implementation, primarily in Poland and Spain.

While RAYUELA developed and tested the educational approach, Cybersecure Mission focuses on turning that experience into practical implementation, training and sustainable use by schools and prevention professionals.

What will happen in Poland?

In Poland, Cybersecure Mission will support the introduction of RAYUELA in schools working with pupils aged 10-16. The game and accompanying educational materials will be available in Polish and adapted to the national context to support prevention and educational activities carried out by schools and the police.

The programme will initially be implemented on a smaller scale, allowing the project partners to test the approach in the Polish context, gather feedback from schools and professionals and refine the implementation model. Based on this experience, the programme will then be gradually expanded to reach a broader network of schools and professionals across Poland.

Teachers, educators and Police officers will receive training on how to use the materials in prevention and educational activities. A train-the-trainer approach will then support wider dissemination and use of the programme.

PPHS will lead the implementation of Cybersecure Mission in Poland, working with partners and stakeholders from child protection, education and law enforcement. The organisation also leads communication and dissemination activities at European level.

The project will also produce training materials, guidance and practical tools designed to make it easier to use the solutions developed within Cybersecure Mission beyond the project itself.

The first activities are already under way

The project was officially launched during a partners’ meeting held in Lisbon on 22–23 September 2026. The event was hosted by Portugal’s Polícia Judiciária, which coordinates the initiative.

During the meeting, partners reviewed the experience gained from the previous use of RAYUELA, began planning activities in Poland and Spain, and started work on the further development of the programme.

Over the coming months, PPHS will work with project partners and Polish stakeholders to prepare the Polish implementation, train professionals and establish the network needed to introduce the programme initially on a smaller scale and subsequently expand it to more schools.

Cybersecure Mission will run until the end of 2027 and is co-funded by the European Union through the Internal Security