YSI Conference 2021: Co-Creating Wellbeing in Online Learning
“My wellbeing is in the wellbeing of others.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
In July 2021, as colleges across India continued to navigate the isolation of online learning during the pandemic, the Youth Social Innovation (YSI) Conference asked a vital question:
“How might we co-create wellbeing for our learning community as we adapt to online learning in the times of COVID?”
YSI 2021 was not just a response to crisis — it was a bold reimagining of education. It proved that even behind screens, students could rebuild connection, restore joy, and co-create thriving communities through empathy, creativity, and shared purpose.
For three days, 79 students and faculty from 20 colleges across India came together in virtual breakout rooms, open-space dialogues, and peer-led sessions — not to listen to lectures, but to share lived experiences and present innovative models born out of their own struggles with digital disconnection.
Event Details
Conference Name | YSI Conference 2021 |
Theme | “How might we co-create wellbeing in online learning during COVID?” |
Dates | July 24–26, 2021 |
Format | Fully ONLINE |
Participants | 79 students & faculty |
Institutions Involved | 19 colleges, 5 universities across India |
Supported by | Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR-SRC) under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav |
The Challenge That Inspired Action
When campuses shut down, many feared the end of meaningful education. Students reported:
- Feeling invisible in silent Zoom classrooms
- Losing motivation due to lack of peer interaction
- Struggling with anxiety, loneliness, and blurred boundaries between life and study
Instead of waiting for top-down solutions, YSI invited students to ask:
What if we design our own ways to feel seen, heard, and connected?
Drawing from Gandhian values — especially “My wellbeing is in the wellbeing of others” — they launched a four-week innovation cycle, testing small, doable ideas to bring warmth back into virtual learning.
The result? Student-led projects that transformed passive screens into vibrant spaces of belonging.
Innovative Models Born in 2021
Two powerful student-led models emerged from this conference.
1. Reimagining Virtual Classrooms
Team: Swarna Mukhi Tadeppally, Angeli Pe
College: Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies
The Problem
Virtual classes felt like monologues — professors spoke, students stayed muted. Engagement was near zero. The screen had become a wall.
The Solution
They redesigned the classroom experience by:
- Creating study pods where peers challenged and supported each other
- Turning passive listeners into active presenters
- Introducing fun, off-syllabus activities to spark organic conversation
- Using collaborative tools like Miro and Jamboard for real-time idea sharing
They didn’t wait for permission — they started shaping the culture themselves.
The Impact
- Silence broke. Once a few spoke, many followed.
- Faculty became co-learners, adapting to new formats.
- A sense of community grew beyond academics.
“We came for better classes — we stayed for the community we built.”
— Swarna Mukhi, Acharya Institute
“One bold student’s question could unfreeze an entire silent class.”
— Reflection from Reimagining Virtual Classrooms team
2. Redefining Well-being Through Open Dialogue
Team: Dhanush B, Joshua Chirag Nag
College: St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous)
The Problem
Students had different, often conflicting definitions of wellbeing. Some saw it as academic success, others as mental peace — but no one had space to talk about it.
The Solution
They initiated open dialogues where peers could:
- Share personal definitions of wellbeing
- Reflect on how they handle stress and challenges
- Discover common threads in their journeys
These weren’t therapy sessions — they were honest conversations among equals.
The Impact
- Stress reduced when students found clarity about what wellbeing meant to them
- Peer support networks strengthened
- Awareness of mental health grew organically
“We found well-being is Resilience: It’s not the absence of problems, but how we carry ourselves through them.”
— Joshua Chirag Nag, St. Joseph’s College
“Clarity brings peace. Defining wellbeing helped me stop worrying about ‘doing it right.’”
— Dhanush B
Conference Highlights
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Chairperson: Dr. Meena Deshpande, Honorary Director, Gandhi Centre, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan
“The YSI conference was transformative because students weren’t just talking about happiness — they were visibly experiencing it while working on real problems. What made their projects successful was something they might not even have been conscious of — the underlying principle of love in all their actions.”
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Chief Guests:
- Prof. T.D. Kemparaju, Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore North University
Praised YSI for addressing critical issues in higher education during the pandemic. - Dr. Shalini Rajneesh (IAS), Additional Secretary, Dept. of Youth Empowerment & Sports, Govt. of Karnataka
Inaugurated the conference and said:
“There are various avenues available for young social innovators — financial aid, technical support. I am sure you will come out with innovative solutions.”
- Prof. T.D. Kemparaju, Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore North University
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YSI Student Fellows: Lavanya Nagaraj, Aishwarya, Sharulatha
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Key Insight Explored:
Wellbeing is co-created. When students lead with empathy, even digital spaces can become places of healing. -
Reflective Practice Papers: Each participant wrote about their journey — turning isolation into insight, and struggle into strength.
Why YSI 2021 Mattered
This wasn’t just another online event. It was proof that human connection transcends technology.
From YSI 2021, we learned:
- Engagement isn’t forced — it’s invited through care
- Learning thrives when emotional needs are met alongside academic ones
- Peer leadership fills gaps that institutions cannot
- Simple acts — like asking “How are you really?” — can transform a virtual classroom
As one fellow reflected:
“We didn’t force anyone to change — we simply created moments so engaging that phones no longer felt necessary.”
— Sharulatha, Maharani Cluster University
And Lakshmi Hariharan observed:
“YSI gave a platform where students talked, and adults listened.”
Even online, trust was rebuilt — one breakout room at a time.
Legacy of YSI 2021
- Proved that student-led innovation works even in virtual settings
- Inspired multiple colleges to adopt peer-facilitated study pods
- Strengthened partnerships with ICSSR, which funded the conference under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
- Documented 26 replicable models of online wellbeing — now used in teacher training programs
It showed that when students are trusted to lead, they don’t just survive disruption —
They reinvent what’s possible.
