Organised under the supervision of Fr Prosper Paluku, SDB, responsible for Social Communication in the St Josep’ Delegation, the session was divided into several modules: Social Communication at the service of the Salesian mission; introduction to journalism: the ABC of journalism; journalistic writing techniques; introduction to fact-checking; the journalist's code of ethics; the use of Google office software.
Three formators – Bonny Maheshe, Fidèle Kitsa and Patient Paluku – led the workshops, encouraging active and practical participation.
A Salesian vision of social communication
One of the highlights of the formation was the development of the first module: ‘Social communication at the service of the Salesian mission’. Formator Bonny Maheshe recalled that social communication occupies a central place in Don Bosco's educational vision. More than just a tool, it is a means of education, evangelisation and active participation of young people in the life of the Church and society; it allows us to create bonds, value talents and give young people a voice so that they can become actors and witnesses of their own reality; it gives young people a voice, visibility and an active role in the transformation of their environment.
A conclusion marked by a call to communion
The formation event ended on Wednesday 4 June with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Paluku, who in his homily highlighted the essential link between communication and communion. ‘I cannot live in communion with God if I am not in communion with my brothers, my sisters, the people around me. And this communion passes through communication,’ the Salesian said.
Insisting on the profound purpose of communication, Fr Paluku urged young people to become builders of unity, stating that well-transmitted information never aims to divide, but to unite. For the head of Social Communication for the Delegation, social communication is an instrument of peace, reconciliation and solidarity, particularly valuable in a context where social tensions and divisions are frequent. ‘Social communication, when well developed, becomes a seed of hope in our communities. It unites, enlightens and transforms,’ he concluded.
A collective commitment to a future in communication
In conclusion, the young participants expressed their gratitude to the Sub-Commission for Social Communication. In a joint statement, they committed themselves to putting into practice the results of the formation for a living communication at the service of the Salesian community and beyond. ‘We promise to put into practice what we have learned during this session, for a living social communication at the service of our Salesian communities and beyond,’ the young people declared in their words of thanks, testifying how they intend to be both narrators and actors of change in their respective environments.
The training session ended in a warm atmosphere, marked by the presentation of certificates of participation, followed by a photo session.
JAMBO VIJANA,
Magazine de l'AFC-EST
