Boroko: Students of Don Bosco Technological Institute (DBTI) joined other students with their teacher animators from Catholic schools in Port Moresby for a weekend Media Education Seminar (MES) from the 4th - 6th June. The program was held at the Emmaus Conference Center in DBTI Boroko.
Organized and conducted by Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB and his team from Social Communications (SOCOM) Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, it was the third seminar in a series of Media Education Seminars for students from the Secondary Catholic schools in Port Moresby.
The seminar’s sessions covered print and audio media, video basics as well activities that involved students’ interactions and discussions on current issues of young people. There were also moments of reflection, prayer and the celebration of the sacraments. Students created jingles, and short films that highlighted messages of hope in line with the theme of the seminar “Hope amidst COVID-19”.
The program concluded with a presentation of the students’ creative productions to a few invited guests who were school heads and family members. Present as a guest was Fr. Gregorio Bicomong, SDB, Provincial of the Vice Province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (PGS). He encouraged the young people to be creative with their talents and skills to influence others positively. “You will find so much rubbish on social media, and that rubbish is what is influencing the way young people think. You use your creativity and skills in media to positively influence others. When you influence you are leaving an impact on others.” said Fr. Greg.
Below are few comments of the students;
“The Overnight Seminar was the best seminar for the year. I really enjoyed staying there and learnt several things in less time. The most important thing I figured out was: Time management and working to a deadline. I found out my strength and the capability to think fast. All in all, I really loved the overnight program because the longer we stayed the more we enjoyed every moment of it.”
- Emmanuel Kokele (Yr. 2 DBTI)
“I learned that media is a form of communication method that is used to inform, educate and inspire people. I am thankful and grateful that I was given this opportunity to be part of the MES group for 2021. I am just so blessed and can't thank the Team SOCOM enough, for their tireless efforts they put into trying to make sure we learnt something new.
To my friends who are part of the MES team; "As young people who are advocates of change, we must change the mindsets of our friends and families with what we have been taught by the hardworking SOCOM Team. “
- Simon Komae (Yr. 2 – DBTI)
“As a Bosconian, the overnight MES was a great and inspirational experience because students from different schools came together to spend the weekend to showcase our creative ideas using multimedia. Also, personally it was a wonderful event that helped develop my confidence in voicing my views, thus making an impact.”
- Clifford Asunu (Yr. 2 - DBTI)