Madagascar – Mobile Journalism Lessons for Salesian Trainees

25 November 2024

(ANS – Ivato) – Each year, the “Mary Immaculate” Vice-Province of Madagascar (MDG) organizes a special three- or four-day training course for young Salesians in the internship/practical training phase, held between October and November, depending on availability. This year, the meeting took place from November 16 to 19, 2024. While the community in Fianarantsoa, housing the post-novitiate, is usually chosen as the venue for these training sessions, this time the event was hosted at the Vice-Province headquarters, the “Don Bosco Ivato” center.

Traditionally, the goal of this training is to deepen Salesian spirituality and assess how it is applied in the places where the trainees are on mission. However, the 2024 edition introduced a significant change by including a session on Mobile Journalism (MoJo), led by Fr. Maciej Makula and youthful media specialist Aleksandra Stankiewicz. This innovative effort was to address the growing demands of digital tools and communication in today’s world.

Before the session began, Fr. Innocent Bizimana, Superior of the MDG Vice-Province, welcomed the attendees. In his address, he emphasized the identity and role of a practical trainee in a Salesian community and the importance of understanding issues emerging out of digital communication mediums, particularly social networks, which play a crucial role in the lives of today’s youth.

During the session, participants learned the fundamentals of mobile journalism, including video recording, photography, editing, interview techniques, on-camera presence, and other skills. The objective was not only to master technological tools but also to become missionaries in the digital world. With these skills, the trainees can share messages of hope, faith, and solidarity through digital platforms.

This initiative underscores a clear commitment to the comprehensive formation of young Salesians, preparing them to face the challenges of an ever-evolving world. At the end of the session, each participant received a certificate symbolizing not just the acquisition of new skills but also their enhanced ability to actively contribute to the Salesian mission.

Through this training, the Madagascar Vice-Province demonstrated how to blend tradition with modernity, equipping young people with the tools to better serve their communities while adapting to 21st-century realities. Mastery of digital media is not merely a professional skill but a valuable and essential asset for spreading Salesian values and the Gospel message in the digital world.

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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