Zoom Online Meeting, 16 May 2024 -- The EAO Social Communication Delegates met online for collaboration and discussion on upcoming initiatives and events in the communication sector. Fr. Harris Pakkam, SDB, the representative from the Generalate was present together with 10 delegates from the region. The group welcomed the two new delegates, Fr. John Laba, INA and Fr. Martin Yip, CIN.
Fr. Harris gave updates on the upcoming Shaping Tomorrow Conference, an international conference on communications which will be held in Rome this August 1 to 7, 2024. The region will then have a meeting on the 8th at the Generalate in the morning. He encouraged the delegates to animate young people and support them as they participate in the 3rd season of the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival. Entries for the festival will close in less than 75 days.
Fr. Albeiro Rodas, SDB, the delegate for Cambodia shared positive feed back from the Indigenous programs and trainings held at Don Bosco Kep, Cambodia last March. He invites all to participate in another initiative, the Namuncura Short Film Festival, that is entitled: ‘Territory.’ It offers indigenous youth of Southeast Asia and Oceania an opportunity to showcase their art, talent, and insights with a focus on the environment.
The delegates discussed possibilities for an upgrade of the regional website, ‘Bosco link’ as it completes its Silver Jubilee. They also evaluated the meetings, activities and events that have challenged, inspired and brought about collaboration between the different sectors, especially that of the youth in the past five years. The School of Communication, Voices, and the Indigenous projects were highlighted, while the painstaking work of translations, essential to the region was appreciated. Possible common projects in the future are mobile journalism, Apps for sharing of information, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics in collaboration with the SYM were also discussed.
Fr. Harris gave his encouragement to the delegates as the meeting ended.
