Orange Belgium brought together about 250 young people and parents at the Nelson Mandela Sports Centre in Neder-Over-Heembeek on Sunday for the second Belgian edition of the #ForGoodConnections Day. Fully booked within days of registrations opening, the initiative combined football, entertainment and education to help families address cyberbullying, excessive screen time, and fake news together.
From a shared concern to a collective response
For many Belgian families, cyberbullying, misinformation and excessive screen time are not distant digital issues: they are part of everyday life. According to the EU Children's Participation Platform (September 2025), 24% of European young people aged 12 to 17 have experienced cyberbullying themselves. Research conducted by iVOX on behalf of Orange Belgium also found that eight in ten Belgian parents do not know where to turn for advice when their child gets a first smartphone, while 65% encounter difficulties when discussing online safety at home.
That is why Orange created the #ForGoodConnections Day: not as a lecture on what families should or should not do online, but as a shared experience that turns a complex subject into a conversation. The event brought children and parents together as one team to take on cyberbullying, excessive screen exposure and fake news through sport, play and practical learning.
The initiative is part of Orange Belgium’s broader #ForGoodConnections commitment. As a connectivity provider, the company believes its role goes beyond connecting people: it also means helping young people and their families make the most of digital opportunities while navigating its risks with confidence.
A team effort, on and off the pitch
Throughout the day, families moved between football challenges, interactive workshops and collectible-card missions, each turning an online risk into something children and parents could explore together.
Players from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, including two members of the club’s D1 team Massiré Sylla and Guilherme Smith, as well as members of its U23 and Ladies teams, joined participants on the pitch. Jan Vertonghen, Imke Courtois, Ward Lemmelijn hosted meet-and-greet sessions, while content creator Luxleseul was also present to support the #ForGoodConnections Day. Through sport, media and online communities, these familiar faces helped make the conversation about growing up online more tangible for young people and their families, showing that positive behaviour, mutual respect and looking out for one another matter just as much online as they do on the pitch.
"Connecting people is at the heart of what we do, but our responsibility does not end there: we want every young person to grow up using technology with confidence, respect and responsibility. That's exactly why we created #ForGoodConnections, not to shield children from the digital world, but to walk them through it, through education, awareness and open dialogue within their families, to help them navigate it safely, respectfully and responsibly together,” said Nathalie Rahbani, Chief Brand, Communication & ESG Officer at Orange Belgium.
“My foundation is built on a simple belief: every child should have the opportunity to play, connect and reach their full potential. Sport shows what is possible when we create inclusive spaces where young people support one another. That is why I was pleased to join the #ForGoodConnections Day: the same values of respect, inclusion and team spirit matter just as much online as they do on the pitch,” commented Jan Vertonghen.
“I discovered the online world in my twenties, while my child has never known a world without it. Cyberbullying, excessive screen time and fake news, these are challenges that many of us are still learning how to navigate. The #ForGoodConnections Day matters because it helps parents and children explore these questions together, through open conversations, practical guidance and mutual understanding,” added Imke Courtois.
“Online interactions can have a real impact, particularly when you are young. Being a secondary school teacher who communicates with young people every day, I know how important it is to encourage respect and kindness, and to make it easier to talk when things go wrong. The #ForGoodConnections Day showed that these topics do not have to be heavy or abstract: when families take them on together, they become much more approachable,” concluded Ward Lemmelijn.
Fully booked within days, the second Belgian #ForGoodConnections Day underlined the need for practical, positive ways to help families navigate life online. Since October 2024, Orange Belgium’s #ForGoodConnections programme has already reached more than 10,000 young people across the country, a number that continues to grow year after year. Orange Belgium will continue to build on this momentum through future initiatives that encourage young people and families to develop safer, more responsible digital habits. Information about future #ForGoodConnections Days will be shared on Orange Belgium’s website.