Connected or disconnected? Youth, Faith, and the Digital World

Port Moresby, PNG: In this dynamic digital and AI era, young people need to understand how to navigate technology, recognize its impact, and use it positively to influence others.

Participants of the Media Education Seminar at the Sivarai Namona Pastoral Centre

An overnight session of the Media Education Seminar 2026 Series was held from Friday, 5:00 pm (May 1) to Saturday, 3:00 pm (May 2, 2026), at the Sivarai Namona Pastoral Centre. The program brought together over fifty participants and included moments of prayer, reflection, and the production of short films.

Nine Catholic schools that have been part of the program since its inception, with both students and their animators present. Following registration and settling in, an animated rosary prayer, coordinated by Mrs. Sheryll Isoaimo and selected students, helped create a calm and reflective atmosphere. This was followed by a goodnight talk from Ambrose Pereira, SDB, the coordinator of the Media Education Seminars.

The Story Board

After supper, participants engaged in a film reflection session, where they watched inspiring short films and shared insights on their messages. They also examined key elements of filmmaking in preparation for producing their own films the following day.

Saturday began early with intentional breathing exercises and prayer, followed by a meaningful Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Ambrose. In his homily, he encouraged participants to be the light they are and to begin each day with gratitude. Reflecting on the day’s readings, he emphasized love for God and neighbour, and the importance of building positive and healthy relationships.

The sessions that followed explored the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on young minds, facilitated by Fr. Ambrose. He encouraged participants to reflect on their digital habits, asking: “Have we become more connected or disconnected in this digital world?” He also highlighted the need for Papua New Guinea to strengthen regulations in the digital space, addressing issues such as digital footprints and identity theft.

The next session, led by Ms. Patrina Kaboanga, focused on storyboarding, shot types, and filming techniques in preparation for the production phase. “A storyboard is the blueprint of filmmaking; it is the graphical visualization of your story,” she explained. Students then presented their storyboards before proceeding to film their short productions.

The program concluded with the screening and evaluation of the students’ films. One participant, Akinda Dissanayake, shared: “The food and venue were amazing. The many things I learnt, will help us in the upcoming Film Festival. We have three months to prepare, and we can use what we learned here to create an even better piece of work.”

Fr. Ambrose expressed his gratitude to the students, animators, and the team of volunteer facilitators; Sheryll Isoaimo, Leo Paraha, Patrina Kaboanga, Melvin Mekas, and Lucy Napitalai. He also thanked the school principals for their continued support. The program now builds momentum toward the upcoming Film Festival, which serves as the culmination of the Media Education Seminar Series.

The Media Education Seminars will culminate in a Film Festival that is open to all young people across Papua New Guinea. Theme: ‘Voices and faces in an AI age’. Final date for submission: 12th September 2026. Duration of the film: 2-5 minutes. Films can be any of the following: Drama, animation, music video, story, etc. Looking forward to seeing you all on film.