When discussing digital safety, passwords, hackers, or social media privacy are often at the forefront. Yet for women escaping domestic violence, digital security can be much more than a technical issue — it can be an essential part of their personal safety. A shared device, a leaked location, or an insecure account can expose survivors to further harm.
Despite this reality, practical and easy-to-understand digital safety resources are often difficult to find in the Albanian language.
This challenge inspired me to create “Digital Safe Space.” Rather than building another informational website, I wanted to create a practical resource that women could use confidently, regardless of their digital skills.
A gap that deserved attention
Across Albania, organizations working with survivors of domestic violence provide legal assistance, psychological support, emergency shelter, and social services. However, digital safety has not always been a structured part of the available support.
Many survivors rely heavily on smartphones to communicate, access banking services, search for employment, or stay connected with their children and support networks. At the same time, these devices can become tools of surveillance or control when accounts are compromised or personal information is exposed.
Conversations with professionals working in shelters highlighted a common need: Digital safety information should be simple, practical, available in the Albanian language, and easy to access whenever someone needs it — not only during a training session.
Creating Digital Safe Space
The project focused on developing an online platform that gathers practical digital safety resources in one place.
The website includes easy-to-read guidance covering topics such as: Creating stronger passwords, recognizing phishing attempts and online scams, protecting social media accounts, managing privacy settings, identifying signs of digital abuse, and knowing where to seek help.
One feature I considered especially important was an anonymous self-assessment tool. Instead of collecting personal information, it allows users to answer a short series of questions and receive practical recommendations based on their responses.
The goal is to encourage reflection and provide concrete next steps safely and privately.
Accessibility was another priority throughout the project. The platform was designed to be mobile-friendly, recognizing that many users access the internet primarily through their mobile phones.
Working together with local organizations
Technology alone cannot solve social problems. For that reason, collaboration with local organizations supporting women is central to the project.
As part of the next phase of the project, a series of training sessions will be delivered for women in shelters and other women supported by our partner Albanian civil society organizations. These workshops will focus on everyday situations such as protecting personal accounts, recognizing suspicious messages, creating safer online habits, and understanding digital footprints.
The partner organizations will help facilitate these sessions and encourage women to use the Digital Safe Space platform as an ongoing resource beyond the training itself. Participant feedback will also help improve the platform and ensure it continues to meet users’ needs.
Building confidence
One of the biggest lessons from this experience is that digital safety is not simply about technology — it is about confidence.
Many people already know that strong passwords or two-factor authentication are important, but they are unsure how to implement these practices or why they matter in real-life situations. Breaking complex topics into small, practical steps makes digital security feel achievable instead of overwhelming.
Another important lesson was the value of listening. The platform became stronger because it evolved through conversations with organizations and potential users rather than being designed in isolation.
Digital Safe Space is intended to last beyond the grant period. The platform has now been developed, while the next phase of the project focuses on delivering the planned training sessions and introducing Digital Safe Space to partner organizations.
These activities will help us measure how the resources are used in practice and identify opportunities for further development.
Although measuring long-term impact takes time, success will not be defined only by website visits or training attendance. It will be reflected in women feeling more confident managing their online lives, recognizing potential risks earlier, and knowing where to find reliable information when they need it.
Digital inclusion is not only about access to technology. It is also about ensuring people can use technology safely, independently, and with confidence.
For women rebuilding their lives after violence, even small improvements in digital security can contribute to a greater sense of independence.
