SVD Hosts Week-Long Digital Ambassadors Training in Eastern India

The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) is hosting a week-long Digital Ambassadors Training Programme in Jharsuguda, eastern India, bringing together 29 young participants, including religious sisters, to develop skills in artificial intelligence, photography, graphic design, content creation and social media communication.

The seventh edition of the training began August 10 at Shanthi Bhavan, the SVD Provincial House in Jharsuguda, Odisha, and is scheduled to conclude August 15.

Organized by Satprakashan Sanchar Kendra under the leadership of Fr. Babu Joseph SVD and Fr. Anthony Swamy SVD, the program aims to equip participants to become creative, responsible and ethical communicators in the digital environment.

Fr. Russel SVD, the local organizer, welcomed the participants and resource persons, including Fr. Babu Joseph SVD, Fr. Anthony Swamy SVD and Harneet Singh.

Fr. Anuranjan SVD, Provincial Superior of the SVD India East Province, emphasized the need for a constructive Christian presence on digital platforms.

“We need to be ambassadors on digital platforms where we can bring peace,” he said, encouraging participants to become bridge-builders in a digital world often marked by misinformation, negativity and conflict.

Fr. Babu Joseph SVD, the program coordinator, urged participants to move beyond simply consuming digital content.

“We should not remain content consumers but become content contributors,” he said, encouraging them to create original and meaningful content.

The training focuses on three broad areas: photography and design, AI tools for content creation, and social media management. Sessions combine demonstrations with practical exercises to help participants apply the skills they learn.

Fr. Anthony Swamy SVD has led sessions on photography, covering composition, framing, perspective and visual storytelling. Participants have practiced using cameras and mobile phones to produce more creative and professionally composed images.

“We are all potential photographers, but we need to move towards professional photography,” he said.

The graphic design sessions have introduced participants to color theory, typography, visual balance, branding and effective communication through design. Using Canva, participants have created flyers, posters and other digital materials, including content featuring tribal culture, traditional food practices and indigenous art forms.

Harneet Singh has facilitated sessions on artificial intelligence and prompt engineering, introducing participants to AI-powered platforms such as Suno AI, Google Flow, CapCut, Gemini and ElevenLabs. Practical exercises have explored the use of AI in producing music, videos, visual content, voice materials and animation.

One highlight has been the creation of inspirational anthem songs for parishes and institutions, alongside experiments with character animation and visual storytelling.

As the training continues, further sessions on content creation and social media management are expected. The program seeks to help participants use digital technology not merely for entertainment, but for education, evangelization, social awareness and the promotion of positive values in their communities.

The participants are expected to return to their respective institutions, parishes and communities with enhanced skills to serve as creative and responsible Digital Ambassadors.