U.N.M.U.T.E. | Uplifting Narratives through Media, Understanding, Technology & Expression
The U.N.M.U.T.E. Program is an initiative by Sky Social, supported by the High Commission of Canada in India under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The program focuses on empowering women, girls, and individuals from marginalized communities with the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to participate safely and meaningfully in the digital world.
Through a combination of digital literacy, AI awareness, financial literacy, and creative expression, U.N.M.U.T.E. aims to nurture a generation of digitally confident community leaders.
The program is implemented across Goa, Chandigarh, and Varanasi, reaching participants from rural and peri-urban communities where access to structured digital learning opportunities can often be limited. Using a Training of Trainers (TOT) model, the program builds local capacity and ensures that knowledge continues to spread within communities.
The program has engaged with 150 impact leaders across the three locations, creating a diverse and inclusive learning community where participants support and learn from one another.
Stories of Change
Beyond numbers and statistics, the most meaningful impact of the program lies in the confidence and transformation experienced by participants. For many women and girls, this is the first time they are exploring how digital platforms can be used not just for communication, but also for learning, entrepreneurship, and self-expression.
Through the program, participants have begun to:
Use digital tools to support education and small businesses
Understand online safety and protect themselves from scams and misinformation
Explore creative expression through storytelling and community theatre
Speak more confidently about digital rights and opportunities
These small but powerful steps are helping participants move from being digital consumers to digital leaders within their communities.
Program Activities
Over the course of seven engaging days, participants took part in a series of workshops designed to build practical skills while encouraging collaboration, creativity, and dialogue.
Workshop on Digital & AI Literacy
During the two-day Digital and AI Literacy workshop, participants learned practical skills such as smartphone use, online safety, responsible social media engagement, voice typing tools, translation tools, and content creation. The sessions encouraged participants to explore how digital tools can support both personal growth and professional opportunities. Participants also worked together to create social media campaigns, reflecting on issues that matter to their communities and highlighting the role of digital platforms in driving awareness and change.
Workshop on Financial Literacy & Government Schemes
This two-day workshop focused on helping participants build confidence in managing finances in the digital age.
Participants learned about:
and mobile banking
digital transactions
and online financial scams
due to fraud
Participants also learned about state-level schemes and how these initiatives can support skill development, financial independence, and livelihood opportunities.
Confidence Circles & Creative Expression
This one-day session focused on building confidence, communication skills, and leadership.
Through storytelling, public speaking exercises, and community theatre activities, participants explored ways to express their ideas and experiences creatively.
These activities helped uncover hidden talents, encouraged collaboration, and gave participants the confidence to share their voices both online and within their communities.
Key Highlights
- • Many participants were first-time or early-stage digital users who owned smartphones but lacked the confidence to fully utilize digital platforms.
- • The program was intentionally inclusive, with participation from women, girls, boys, and men, emphasizing that digital spaces should be safe and accessible for everyone.The program was inclusive, with participation from all groups.
- • Nearly 150 participants joined the program across the three locations over the seven-day training cycle.
- • Cybercrime Cells from all three states contributed to the sessions, helping participants understand online risks and safety measures.
- • A special session on financial fraud, online harms, and digital risks was conducted by the Chandigarh Cybercrime Cell.
- • In Varanasi, the program was graced by the ACP Cybercrime, and in Chandigarh, sessions were supported by a Sub-Inspector from the Cybercrime Unit, offering participants practical insights on cyber safety.Sessions were supported by cybercrime officials.
