Various schools and colleges in Hyderabad were thrown the challenge COVA Peace Network – confederation of voluntary organizations, had one really, of passing a social message through social media and quickly.
Commemorating the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Sambandh-2024 organized inter-school as well as inter-college competitions. It also pays tribute to Praful Bidwai, B.M. Kutty and Swami Agnivesh who made important contributions to social activism.
On Tuesday (August 6, 2024), the network judged some of the best reels and videos produced by students with their teachers in under 90 seconds. A total of 61 entries were received from 31 schools. According to Mazher Hussain, COVA’s Executive Director, this was designed to show students how they could use social media for more than just entertainment and instead drive society forward through awareness.
Videos were sent on wide themes such as poverty, drug abuse, child labor, environment, gender justice, transgender people, care of elders, unemployment corruption, mobile addiction, differentlyabled people, communal violence and suicide prevention.
Secretary Thomas Chakkalackala Cova executive member Shobha former president NAREDCO Sunil Chandra Reddy among others gave prizes and cash awards to winning teams. They inspired children to dream big , believe in one’s abilities , practice inclusiveness in daily life.
Other winners included mime on mobile phone addiction; girl education inspired by Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai by Telangana Minorities Residential Junior College (TMRJC), Charminar and Yakutpura; gender justice from Birla Open Minds School among others.
