Gender Equity Starts with Awareness-Empowering Every Child to Learn, Dream, And Lead

The School of Business & Management – BBA at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, in collaboration with the Centre for Counselling & Health Services, SDG Cell, BBA, and the Department of English & Cultural Studies, organized a Gender Equity Outreach Session titled “Gender Equity Starts with Awareness – Empowering Every Child to Learn, Dream, and Lead.” The session was conducted on 18th February 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Dasve Public School. The program was organized as part of the Sustainability Week initiative and aimed to promote awareness about gender equality and respectful social behaviour among school students.

This outreach initiative served as an extension activity of the BBA department, reflecting the university’s commitment to community engagement and social responsibility. The session was coordinated by Ms. Munira Kachwala, Dr. Barna Naidu, and Dr. Alpana Kolekar. The activities were facilitated by peer educators from the BBA department and the Department of English & Cultural Studies. More than 30 students from Dasve Public School actively participated in the program.The primary objective of the session was to create awareness among young students about gender equity, challenge commonly held stereotypes, and encourage fairness and respect in everyday interactions. The program emphasized that equal opportunities and respectful treatment should be extended to individuals of all genders, both in educational environments and in society.

The session began with an engaging icebreaker activity designed to help students reflect on common gender roles and assumptions. Through interactive questions and examples, participants were encouraged to think about how certain roles and expectations are often associated with boys or girls, and whether such assumptions are fair or justified. This activity helped initiate a thoughtful discussion about the importance of equality and inclusion. One of the key highlights of the program was the “Fair or Unfair” movement-based activity. In this exercise, students responded physically to various scenarios presented by the peer educators by moving to designated areas representing “fair” or “unfair.” The activity encouraged students to evaluate real-life situations involving gender bias and discrimination. The movement-based format made the session highly engaging and helped participants actively reflect on the consequences of stereotypes and unequal treatment.

The outreach session also included group discussions and reflection exercises where students shared their perspectives and experiences. These discussions allowed participants to express their opinions in a safe and supportive environment while learning to listen respectfully to others. The peer educators facilitated these discussions by emphasizing the importance of empathy, respectful language, and standing up against unfair behaviour. Student engagement throughout the session was highly positive. Participants actively contributed to discussions, asked questions, and demonstrated curiosity about issues related to gender equity. The interactive format ensured that the students remained involved and attentive throughout the program.

The session achieved several important outcomes. Students developed a clearer understanding of gender stereotypes and how such biases can influence behaviour and opportunities. The activities helped improve empathy and awareness regarding fairness and equality. Additionally, the outreach activity strengthened the leadership, communication, and facilitation skills of the peer educators who conducted the session. Overall, the Gender Equity Outreach Session successfully promoted awareness about gender equality and respectful behaviour among school students. The program also strengthened collaboration between different departments of the university while reinforcing the importance of community engagement and sustainability-oriented initiatives.