By Patrina Kaboanga

Port Moresby, PNG, 24 February 2025 -- The 2025 Media Education Seminars began with the animators’ formation on 22 February at Cuthbertson House, Downtown, Port Moresby. Under the coordination of Fr Ambrose Pereira SDB, EAO & PGS Social Communications Coordinator, this gathering marked the start of a series of Media Education Seminars, with the first MES session scheduled for 1 March and continuing through June. The theme: Pilgrims of Hope: Journeying from Darkness to Light - is a combination of the Jubilee Year theme and that of the Archdiocese of Port Moresby. Ambone the enthusiastic Media Animators from the different Catholic Schools of Port Moresby were animators from Don Bosco Technical School, Don Bosco Technological Institute, Boroko, Mary Help of Christians Vocational and Educational - FODE Centre, Mary Help of Christians parish, Serokone, and Radio Maria.

A new collaboration between The Voice Inc. (TVI), a local NGO, and The Dream Hub, an inspiring space run by The Voice Inc., led to the first meeting of animators.

The meeting began with the registration of animators and teachers, who will guide the students and young participants in the upcoming seminar series. This was followed by a prayer and a warm welcome from Fr Ambrose. Maliwai Sassingan, Executive Director of TVI, and Dagia Aka, Communications Manager, then gave a brief overview of the organization's history and mission to empower youth in Papua New Guinea and across the Pacific to drive positive change in their communities.

“We continue doing this because we believe that if you want to change the world, you have to be that change,” Ms. Maliwai stated. They also shared possibilities for your people to be part of the Clean Generation and get support to organize and run programs in the villages in which they reside.

The sessions were enthusiastically led by volunteer facilitators - Mr. Leo Paraha, Ms. Sheryll Isoaimo, Ms. Patrina Kaboanga, M.s Fidelmah Urakupa, and Ms Lucy Napitalai - along with Fr Ambrose. The discussions focused on the roles and expectations of animators and student participants, emphasizing how schools can leverage media to spread positive and inspiring messages, the need to be critical consumers of media, and the potential integration of media literacy into the curriculum. Fr. Ambrose stressed the importance of using media wisely, urging the animators to guide young people in critically evaluating the content they consume and share online.

“Before we post or share content, we must ask ourselves: What is the message, and how are we inspiring change?” he added.

At the end of the sessions, animators shared their reflections.

“I came here with no knowledge of media, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to facilitate my students well. But thanks to these sessions, I am now confident to do this,” said Ms. Beverly Ururu, a teacher-animator from Jubilee Catholic Secondary School.

“There is so much clarity in the content, and I truly appreciate Fr. Ambrose and the facilitators. One key takeaway for me today is the importance of critical thinking. As they were presenting, I kept asking myself, how am I going to apply this in my classroom?” commented Mrs. Hasola, a teacher from Marianville Secondary School.

The first Media Education Seminar will take place on 1 March at St Charles Lwanga Secondary School in Gerehu, Port Moresby.

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