By Alphonsa Ohol and Deepti Panpatil for BIS Mumbai

“Awareness and courage are the strongest shields a young mind can carry.”

On November 25, 2025, Don Bosco High School, Yerwada conducted a meaningful and impactful Beti Suraksha session for the students of Standards VIII and IX in the school hall.

The programme began with a warm introduction by Tr Deepti Panpatil.

Fr Glen Fernandes then welcomed the resource team, which included dedicated Sacred Heart Parish members Mr Cyril Ashirwadam and Mr Edwin Lazarus, whose presence added value to the session.

The session was led by Sr Magdalene Sequeira, a Salesian Sister from Lohegaon Park, known for her active involvement in women’s welfare. As a  committed social worker, she has been working tirelessly to ensure dignity, equality and safety for women in society. Her simplicity, experience, and honest approach made the session both powerful and relatable for the students.

Throughout her talk, Sister Magdalene guided the students on several important aspects of safety and personal growth. She spoke about self-protection rules, basic defence techniques, moral values and the importance of making wise choices. She sensitised the young audience about child trafficking, eve teasing, drug abuse, body shaming and the growing influence of pornography on young minds.

One of her strong messages was that students must live according to their age, without rushing into behaviours meant for adulthood. The concept of “stranger danger” was explained with great clarity, helping students understand how to remain alert and cautious in real-life situations.

The session was further enriched with thoughtful videos and a well-prepared PowerPoint presentation, which made the learning more realistic and engaging.

The programme made a strong impression on all present, owing to the clarity and sincerity with which the topics were presented.

The morning concluded with a sincere Vote of Thanks delivered by the Secondary Section Head Teacher, Tr Varsha Hiwale, expressing gratitude to Sister Magdalene and the entire team for an eye-opening and enriching experience for the students.

A student of Std VIII shared that the session helped him understand how important it is to stay alert, confident, and aware of his surroundings. He expressed that the examples given made safety feel practical and easy to follow. The student also mentioned that such sessions give them courage and a better understanding of real-life situations.

A student from Std IX mentioned that the session encouraged her to make wiser choices and be more responsible. She appreciated how clearly sensitive topics were explained, saying it made him feel more prepared to face real-life situations. She said that the presentation inspired her to be more mindful, responsible, and supportive of her peers.