Voices is an innovative project from the Social Communications Sector, Rome, and comes as a concrete response to implement some of the proposals of Pope Francis’ Global Educational Pact, Synodality and the Rector Major's Programmatic Proposals, giving priority to Communication at the service of the neediest, migrants, refugees, indigenous peoples, victims of war. The ‘Voices’ project is aimed to be the voice of those who have no voice in every region.
The delegates of the East Asia Oceania region had been already introduced into the “Voices” project, which is scheduled to be organized at Hua Hin, Thailand from 19-22 September 2023. The first two days will be dedicated to the Voices Project, while the remaining two days will focus on the formation of the delegates for ANS – Agenzia iNfo Salesiana, and the sharing of the Social Communication Plans of every province and the planning and networking in the East Asia Oceania Region.
The Voices project will be a unique occasion to listen to the unheard voices of the young people in the East Asia Oceania region and respond to those concrete issues through the accompaniment and concerted efforts of all the delegates. The invited young people from the various provinces will meet together in Thailand on those dates and share their experiences, struggles and stories on the four chosen themes: Digital Addiction, Substance Addiction, Ecology and Social Justice. It is expected that this personal encounter with young people and listening to their stories especially those on the fringes of the society will help shape and give new focus to the Communication Ministry in the region and in the individual provinces.
Another important topic of discussion was the forthcoming “Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival”, Season 2 for the young people of all the institutions belonging to the Salesian Family. The festival has been tailored to empower all the regions and the delegates, and reward the young people accordingly. The first level of screening will be based on the Regional level, while the second level will be based on the Global level. Fr. Harris, the film festival director exhorted all the delegates to positively motivate the young people of all our institutions, so as to ensure the participation of as many young people in this unique opportunity created for them. He affirmed, “The film festival on the theme, ‘Love Builds Peace and Solidarity’, will be a concrete expression of our efforts to engage, form, accompany and motivate the young people to become ambassadors of love, building peace and solidarity in the world”. The delegates also had the opportunity to clarify their queries and expressed their enthusiasm to accompany and motivate the young people to creatively express their ideas and stories through their films. The last date for the submission of films if 31st July 2023, and the delegates on their part assured that they would communicate the information to all the institutions and encourage young people to create films that will convey the theme.
DBGYFF is no doubt the biggest film festival for the young, and a unique opportunity to unite as the Salesian Family in the world and to show our commitment towards the young people and the society. While the last date for submission of films is less than 50 days, the festival will be organized in as many of our institutions on the 13 and 14 October 2023, resounding the name of Don Bosco and the youth worldwide.
The presence of all the delegates, specially from Japan and China was noteworthy, and it was indeed a 100% participation. The delegates agreed to send the names of the young people by 24th of June to Fr. Ambrose Pereira, the East Asia Oceania regional coordinator for Social Communication, and also agreed to meet on the 29th of June to finalize the preparations for the “Voices” meeting.
Fr Keith Amodia SDB,
SC Coordinator FIS province
