Conference on Building Resilience and Empowerment

Summary of Conference on Resilience and Community Empowerment

Event Details:

• Title: Resilient Futures
• Collaboration: Let Us Dream & Stella Maris College
• Occasion: Commemoration of 150 years of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
• Participants: Approximately 350 attendees

Keynote Addresses and Speakers:

• Welcome Address: Sr. Stella Mary, Principal of Stella Maris College
• Keynote Speech: Delivered by Conference Head Jimmy Cherian
• Chief Guest: IPS Officer Shanaz Ilyas
  • Focused on cybercrime and experiences from the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime cell

Panel Discussion:

• Theme: Building Resilience: From The Child To The Community
• Moderator: Arun Fernando
• Panelists:
  • Virgil D’Sami (Child Rights Activist)
  • M. Satyakumar (Advocate)
  • Dr. Manorama Pinakapani (Paediatrician)

Interactive Sessions by Changemakers:

• Amara J: Encouraged transforming uncertainty into strength.
• Vedika Agarwal: Founder of Yein Udaan, spoke on nurturing holistic childhood in marginalized communities.
• Sethulakshmi: Managing Director of YRG Foundation, addressed the protection of sexual violence victims.

Focus Areas

• Community Empowerment: Emphasis on building resilient futures within communities, particularly concerning child rights and issues of sexual violence.
• Cybercrime Awareness: Importance of educating communities on cybercrime threats and mitigation strategies.

Implications for Policy and Law

• Discussions highlight the need for improved policy responses and legal frameworks to protect marginalized communities, children, and victims of violence.
• Engaging stakeholders in child rights and community support initiatives aligns with the Fundamental Rights (Article 21 - Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 39 - Right to adequate means of livelihood as well as Article 45 - Provision for early childhood care and education).

This conference serves as a testament to the collective efforts needed to build resilience in communities, with a clear focus on the protection and empowerment of vulnerable populations.