AI in the Family: Understanding It to Better Master It

“AI for Families” brings together parents and children from immigrant families in Lausanne for three workshops, each lasting two and a half hours, focused on artificial intelligence and digital technology in everyday life. Families learn to use AI tools responsibly (translating emails, homework, and searching for information), to spot scams and fabricated content, and to protect their personal data.

10 to 15 families with immigrant backgrounds or who are multilingual and residing in Lausanne—approximately 25 to 30 people—each represented by at least one parent and one child or young person aged 7 or older

The project addresses a common reality in immigrant families: children often have a better command of French and digital tools than their parents, who consequently find themselves excluded from their children’s digital world. The workshops rebalance this dynamic by making each family member a resource for the others. They culminate in a digital charter tailored to each family and a multilingual practical guide distributed during the final workshop, which is then shared with other families in Lausanne. The project adapts the methodology of the Jeunesse & IA Lab—a FIDES program—to a family-oriented format, differing from it in its target audience, content, and budget. IDENTIFIED NEEDS 1. Understanding emails and platforms in French: Many parents use AI tools to translate communications from schools, government agencies, or health insurance providers, without knowing how to verify their reliability. 2. Regaining their role as parents in the digital world: Children often serve as interpreters and technical advisors for their parents. 3. Protecting themselves against targeted scams: fake messages impersonating authorities, banks, or delivery services—and now AI-generated voices and videos. 4. Sifting through the information circulating in community messaging groups, where rumors and manipulated content spread rapidly. 5. Providing guidance on using AI for homework. These needs have emerged from fieldwork conducted by FIDES with young people and adult migrants in Lausanne (Jeunesse & IA Lab, Tandem Citoyen). They will be confirmed during family registration. OBJECTIVES 1. Autonomy: enable parents to use AI to understand an email or search for information, while knowing how to verify the results. 2. Protection: equip families with simple strategies to deal with scams, fabricated content, and the sharing of their personal data. 3. Family dialogue: Create a space where parents and children can discuss their digital habits and establish common rules together. SCHEDULE: 3 WORKSHOPS OF 2 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES EACH, FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH TOGETHER (format and materials in FALC) Workshop 1 – AI in Everyday Life: AI translation of a fictional school letter and identifying errors in pairs; limitations of a chatbot. Families leave with a three-step method for verifying an AI translation or response. Workshop 2 – True, False, or Made Up?: A game involving sorting true and false messages; AI-generated content; what you should never share online. Families leave with a sheet of anti-scam tips and useful contacts. Workshop 3 – Our Family Digital Charter: a guided discussion between parents and children; AI and homework; drafting each family’s charter; distribution of the multilingual practical guide. The workshop concludes with a social gathering open to family members and friends. ACCESSIBILITY Participation is completely free; workshops are held on Saturdays; no devices required; the guide is translated into the most widely spoken languages; AI tools are demonstrated by facilitators without requiring families—especially children—to create accounts or enter personal data. TEAM Ana Milena Carranza, co-founder of the FIDES association and holder of a Ph.D. in governance, leads its programs, including the Youth & AI Lab. Daniel Pacheco Gutiérrez, co-founder of FIDES and an artificial intelligence engineer with a degree from EPFL, contributes his technical expertise. EXPECTED RESULTS 10 to 15 families (minimum of 8), with at least 75% attending all 3 workshops; at least 70% of parents report being able to verify a translation or an AI response; at least 70% of participants correctly identify a fake message; one charter per family; a practical guide in French and two or three other languages, published as open access on the FIDES website; a follow-up questionnaire 30 days after the last workshop. In the event of a partial grant, for example of 2,000 CHF, the project would be reduced to 2 workshops and the guide would be published in FALC French and in only one other language. Complete application attached.

Association Découvrir or Maison de quartier de la Louve, Lausanne

Recruitment and registration of families (language questionnaire): 6 weeks before the first workshop. 3 workshops, in a single series, depending on the jury’s decision date: spring 2027 (Saturdays, February 20 and 27, and March 6) or fall 2027 (Saturdays, September 18 and 25, October 2), excluding school breaks and holidays. Distribution of the guide during the final workshop. Online publication of the guide and follow-up with families via questionnaire: within 30 days following the final workshop. Report to the Family Division: by the end of the year following the grant award.

4,000

Association Découvrir: partner for promotion and venue rental. Support is also being mobilized through the La Louve and Sous-Gare community centers. No other funding is being sought.