NEWS
Street Play Spotlights Screen Addiction
As part of a year-long initiative to bridge classroom learning with community engagement, social work students from Loyola College, Trivandrum, partnered with Don Bosco Veedu to stage a compelling street play on screen addiction at MSK Nagar. The event also marked the launch of a new children’s theatre group that aims to take the message to neighbourhoods across the city.
As the evening sun dipped over MSK Nagar, a crowd of curious onlookers gathered to watch the students transform a street corner into a stage. Through humour, poignant storytelling, and evocative imagery, the performers explored how smartphones—while empowering—are subtly reshaping relationships, routines, and attention spans.
The performance formed part of the Awake Project, an initiative by Don Bosco Veedu to raise awareness on social issues through creative expression. Present at the event were Fr. Saju P. Thomas, Principal of Loyola College, and Fr. Saji, the college’s Social Interaction Coordinator, both of whom applauded the students’ initiative.
“This is not just a performance,” remarked Fr. Saju. “It’s a mirror to society and a wake-up call—especially for young people who are increasingly tethered to their screens.”
The street play also served as the first public performance under UACT (Youth in Action), a new field-based learning programme by Don Bosco Veedu for Master of Social Work (MSW) students. Over the coming year, 24 Loyola students will participate in community projects addressing issues such as mental health, digital dependency, poverty, and child welfare.
Children’s Theatre
Adding to the evening’s significance, Fr. Jiji Kalavanal inaugurated a new children’s theatre group, which will train youngsters—many from marginalized backgrounds—in the art of street performance. The children will soon carry the message on screen addiction to communities across Trivandrum.
The students’ message resonated deeply: though empowering, technology must not overpower human connection. “There’s a difference between using a phone and being used by one,” said one of the performers, leaving the audience with much to reflect on.
Community members praised the initiative, sharing their own concerns about rising screen time among children and expressing hope that such performances would inspire mindful digital habits.
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