SIGNIS strives to promote a culture of Peace
- Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb

CAPE TOWN: 21st December -- The World Catholic Association for Communication (SIGNIS) brought together delegates from across the globe (including a Salesian from the East Asia-Oceania Region) to share, interact and decide on how best to share the Good News using what technology has to offer.  Over 110 persons – producers, delegates, staff, observers and others - attended the SIGNIS workshops and week-long meeting held from 11th to 21st November, at Cape Town, South Africa. 

Networking was the focus of the Workshops in the area of TV and Radio production.  18 participants attended the Sithengi film festival viewing a variety of films by African filmmakers.  The Radio seminar brought together those running Catholic Radio stations of the English and Portuguese speaking countries of southern Africa.  Despite lack of resources, closed airwaves, studios being burnt and destroyed, they carry on, struggling to give a voice to their people.  Training, programmings, management of resources are areas in which they feel they can grow.

It has been two years of growth and development as SIGNIS strives to carve out a niche for itself in World Media.  Resources, Advocacy, Media Education, Production and Distribution, Theology and Communication, Women in Communication, Cinema and Television, Training and Formation are some of the priorities that have been set for the years ahead.

Africa provided an appreciation for what we have and take for granted.  Media Education – a priority of SIGNIS - has opened up immense possibilities for people in Solomon Islands and elsewhere in the Pacific.  As we strive to find ourselves, grow and bond together in Peace – we owe a great debt to SIGNIS for the inspiration and the support that has made this possible.  This is but a small step – much needed - as we strive to empower our people and grow in peace.

'austraLasia' is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific.

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