India Communications Centre on

Visual creativity and artificial intelligence for young people

A two-day workshop on visual creativity with artificial intelligence was successfully organized by Madha TV and the Santhome Communications Centre in collaboration with SIGNIS Tamil Nadu on June 27 and 28, 2028.

The program was coordinated by Reverend Dr. Jenith Sekar, Technical Manager of Madha TV.
About 25 young people from the northern region of Tamil Nadu went up to the workshop.
This program is part of a series of seven training modules that are taught in the dioceses of the four regions of Tamil Nadu.
SYNC: an innovative initiative
The initiative, titled Synergy of the Youth Communications Network (SYNC), was conceived by Reverend Father David Arockiam, executive director of Madha TV. To date, it has trained nearly 250 young media professionals who actively demonstrate their talent across mass media, social networks, diocesan communication centers, television networks, and independent YouTube platforms. Known as Young Media Warriors, they function as Catholic digital cells in Tamil Nadu, promoting Gospel values and social awareness through digital media.

Participants will also contribute to the NEWA (New Wave) YouTube channel, recently launched by Madha TV and the Santhome Communications Center, which seeks to communicate socio-economic, political, cultural and human interest stories to the general public.
Objectives: The workshop aimed to inspire creativity and curiosity among young people, helping them understand the transformative role of artificial intelligence in visual storytelling, design, and creative expression.
Through a combination of interactive sessions and hands-on activities, participants gained theoretical knowledge and practical experience in using AI tools for image generation, visual effects, and content ideation.

The program was inaugurated by Fr. David Arockiam, who encouraged participants to make the most of this unique opportunity to explore and excel in the field of media.
The workshop featured an experienced team of speakers, including Fr.

VMJ Adaikalaraj, Fr. Paula Jayakumar, Fr. Richie Vincent, Mr. Jayachandran,
Fr Daniel Sharma, Dr Vimal Jerald, Dr Magimai Pragasam, Ms Reshma and the
P. Edison. Mr. Peter, SYNC coordinator, oversaw the logistics of the two-day program.

Participants' opinions
The participants expressed their gratitude for the initiative. One participant commented, “This is a wonderful opportunity for us, and we are confident that we will prove our worth in the field of media.” Another participant added, “At a time when media training is becoming increasingly expensive, Madha TV has generously offered us this program with the sole aim of empowering young people to succeed in the media industry. We are determined to make a significant impact.”

Reflecting on the program, Fr. Dr. Jenith Sekar commented, “The overwhelmingly positive response from the participants has been very encouraging and rewarding after months of careful preparation. However, this is just the beginning. We remain committed to maintaining their enthusiasm through ongoing mentoring and follow-up programs.”

For the past two years, Fr. Jenith has led similar initiatives to build a dynamic network of young Catholic media professionals together with Fr.

David, CEO of Madha TV, whose vision is to train as many young Catholic lay people as possible to integrate into the world of secular media and proclaim the Good News.

— Dr. Magimai Pragasam