VidyalAI

The VidyalAI Outreach Programme, organised by the School of Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, was designed as an educational and community-driven initiative to promote Digital Wellbeing and Cyber Safety among school students. Conducted across five schools in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the programme aimed to equip students with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the digital world responsibly, while encouraging awareness about the emotional and ethical dimensions of technology use. This initiative reflected the university’s larger vision of extending learning beyond classrooms and fostering social responsibility through academic outreach.

Under the able guidance of Dr. Avichal Sharma, and with the constant support of the department faculty, the outreach sessions were facilitated by student representatives Adrita Sengupta and Tanishq Saini. The programme reached over 500 students from Grades 9 to 12, spreading the message of digital awareness and cyber safety across multiple institutions. Each 90-minute session was designed to be interactive, activity-based, and reflective, ensuring that students not only learned about the concepts but also understood their real-world relevance. The sessions helped students identify the impact of their digital footprints, understand online risks, and learn practical ways to ensure safety and balance in their online lives.

The sessions covered a wide range of themes including Digital Identity, Online Privacy, Cyberbullying, Data Protection, and Emotional Wellbeing in the Digital Age. Students participated in engaging activities such as Your Digital Self, True or False: Cyber Myths Quiz, and Spot the Scam, where they learned to identify phishing messages and online frauds. These interactive components transformed the classroom into a space of curiosity, laughter, and shared learning. Discussions on Deepfakes, AI ethics, and the psychological effects of social media further encouraged students to think critically about their online behaviour and how digital habits influence both personal and societal wellbeing.

The outreach team was met with warm hospitality and enthusiastic cooperation from all participating institutions. The principals — Sr. Archana, Ms. Swapna Aphale, Ms. Mona, Mr. Antony Raj, and Fr. Lijo Kozhippadan — along with teachers and coordinators, played a key role in facilitating the sessions and ensuring an engaging environment for the students. The team appreciated the openness and curiosity of the young learners, whose active participation made each session unique and memorable. The collaborative spirit between the university and schools underscored the importance of educational partnerships in shaping digitally responsible citizens.

Overall, the VidyalAI Outreach Programme was a resounding success, blending academic learning with community engagement. It not only empowered students to use technology safely, ethically, and mindfully but also offered an enriching learning experience for the student facilitators themselves. Representing CHRIST University within just a few months of their first year, the outreach team gained invaluable exposure in public speaking, leadership, empathy, and educational outreach. The initiative truly embodied CHRIST’s mission of Excellence and Service, contributing to the development of a digitally aware and socially responsible generation.