GISF Founder and President Emmanuel Adinkra spoke at the Child Trauma Conference, “Harmful Sexual Behaviours in Children: From Hurting to Healing”, hosted by Jelly Beanz in Cape Town, South Africa, on 26–27 August 2026. The conference brought together psychologists, social workers, educators and child protection practitioners from across Southern Africa. He was accompanied by Dr. Gabriel Ofori Appiah, Country Director, Ghana Internet Safety Foundation and Mosadi Moloi, Lead- Partnerships and Grants.
Day 1: The Child You Know, The Life You Don’t
In his first session, “The Child You Know, The Life You Don’t: How Parental Assumptions Amplify Online Harm”, Adinkra showed how well-meaning parents can underestimate what their children experience online, and how those blind spots can leave children isolated when something goes wrong. He stressed that open, non-judgemental conversations at home are one of the strongest protections a child can have.
Day 2: The Algorithm Knows Your Child
On the second day, he presented “The Algorithm Knows Your Child: Artificial Intelligence, Intimacy and the New Architecture of Online Risk”. The session explored how AI chatbots, recommendation algorithms and AI-generated imagery are creating new forms of risk for children, from emotional dependency on chatbots to AI-generated sexual images, and what professionals need to know to respond.
“Children’s online lives are changing faster than the systems built to protect them,” said Adinkra. “Africa’s child protection professionals need to be part of shaping the response, not just reacting to it.”
Bringing the lessons home
The insights from Cape Town are feeding into GISF’s work in Ghana, including Digital Parenting University for parents and guardians and the Children, AI & Emerging Technologies programme for schools.
Want GISF to speak at your event or train your team? Contact us at info@gisfoundation.com.
