Bogota (Colombia). The Provincial Delegates for Education and Communication of the Provinces of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), and of the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts (HHSSCC) of Colombia, met in Bogotá, at Don Bosco Center, from 13 to 14 February 2020. Six FMAs, three SDBs, two HHSSCC, and two lay people belong to this Commission.
During the day of February 13, the members examined the Strategic Plan of the Commission, highlighting as a strength the work around the thematic axis of the Central Commission of the Salesian School America (ESA), with the desire to be able to include the itineraries proposed by the ‘America and Caribbean Social Communication Team (ECOSAM) and the Salesian Communication Department. The Commission seeks to disseminate the relevance and significance of Educommunication as a way of living and working together through which it strengthens the vast network of relationships that shape an Educational Ecosystem.
The experiences of those who participated in the various events were also shared: the 26th Inter-American Congress of Catholic Education, the meeting of those responsible for Education of the Andean Region and of the Interprovincial Conference of Bolivarian Nations (CINAB), held in Chile in January 2020; the Meeting of the World Consult of the Department for Social Communication of the Salesians, and the Continental Meeting of the Provincial Delegates for Social Communication of the SDBs in Asunción – Paraguay.
In the afternoon, the participants visited the structures of the Foundation of the Salesian University which has recently started its activity. At the Resource Center for Learning and Research (CRI), the factors that distinguish the Salesian University and the Academic Courses offered by the Don Bosco Campus were presented.
At the end of the day, a Seminar on Narration was held, in reference to the Message of Pope Francis for the 54th World Communications Day “So that you can tell and fix in memory” (Ex 10.2). Life becomes history, in which we talked about communication as recognition of the other, valuing the importance of narrative for its transformational ability.
On February 14, after the Eucharistic Celebration, the Commission dedicated itself to the preparation of the Meeting of the Coordinators of the Educating Communities of the Salesian Family of Colombia, to be held in March 2020 in Medellin (Colombia). The meeting aims to support the formation of Directives, thus strengthening the processes of continuous formation and networking, to co-responsibly re-signify the Preventive System by strengthening, in all the members of the Educating Communities, the skills required by the Pastoral Educational Project , in the light of ESA IV.
The EDUCOMFS Educommunication Commission is an organ of Animation / Management – Coordination – Accompaniment, Consultancy, and Evaluation of educational and communicative processes which operates for each of the Educating Communities of the FMA, HHSSCC, and SDBs in Colombia and meets four times a year . It also tries to be present and to bring its voice to the National and International Organizations that operate at the level of education and communication in the youth world. It was established in 2012, following the implementation of the First Educommunication Conference (from 30 September to 2 October 2011 in Medellin), with a view to collaboration between the Salesian resources of Colombia in the areas of Education and Communication.
Esta comisión es un espacio para vivir la espiritualidad de la educomunicación, en donde se establecen relaciones en el espíritu de familia y se tejen redes de colaboración para el trabajo educativo. En cada reunión de la comisión se fortalecen aún más los nodos y se experimenta la riqueza del carisma que nos convoca como Familia Salesiana Colombia.