Initiative helps communicators build global network
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake Central Conference communicators gather together at Africa University.
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In
July 2005, United Methodist Central Conference communicators gather
together following a two day consultation at Africa University to
discuss communication challenges in Africa. Findings from this meeting
were used to develop training materials for a two week course to be held
June 15-30 at Africa University. Thirty-one participants from 17
African countries will build their skills as Christian communicators and
help build a global network for the United Methodist Church. A UMNS
photo by Kathy L. Gilbert. Photo #06646. Accompanies UMNS story #343.
6/09/06. |
June 9, 2006
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Thirty-one representatives from
17 African countries will gather June 15-30 for an intense two-week
course of study to build their skills as Christian communicators and
help build a global network for the United Methodist Church.
The course is being held at United Methodist-related
Africa University and is sponsored by the university and the Central
Conference Communications Initiative, a collaborative effort between
United Methodist Communications and the bishops of the central
conferences — regional units of the denomination in Africa, Europe and
Asia.
The 2004 General Conference overwhelmingly approved the
initiative, which calls for United Methodist Communications to identify
new partnerships or assist with established partnerships among United
Methodists in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States.
Classes will include basic computer, Internet and e-mail
training, journalism, photography, videography, video editing,
newsletter design, community radio and a special session on writing
about social issues such as HIV/AIDS and malaria.
“What many communicators take in two semesters, we’re
doing in two weeks,” said Barbara Nissen, leader of the Communications
Resourcing Team at United Methodist Communications.
At the end of the course, communicators will go home with
DVDs, CDs, a template for a Web site and a notebook with outlines and
notes from all of the instructors, Nissen said.
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa discusses communication challenges in Africa.
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United
Methodist Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, Zimbabwe area, discusses the
communication challenges in the Central Conferences in Africa during a
two day consultation in July 2005 at Africa University. Findings from
this meeting were used to develop training materials for a two week
course to be held June 15-30 at Africa University. Thirty-one
participants from 17 African countries will build their skills as
Christian communicators and help build a global communications network
for the United Methodist Church. A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert. Photo
#06647. Accompanies UMNS story #343. 6/09/06.
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Most of the courses will be taught in three languages:
French, Portuguese and English. Instructors from Burkina Faso,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya
and Ghana, as well as United Methodist Communications’ Media Group, will
lead the classes.
Last July, 13 annual conference communicators
representing nine African countries held a two-day consultation at
Africa University to identify communication challenges and solutions.
The findings from that consultation were used to develop the two-week
course for this summer.
“I think the initiative is one of the best gifts the
church has given to Africa as far as communication is concerned,” said
Tafadzwa Mudambanuki, the initiative’s coordinator and a native of
Zimbabwe. “It is an initiative that will help people get information
about life-saving issues — information to survive, to live their lives
and become global citizens.”
Strengthening community
The goal of the training event is to empower sustainable,
regional communication offices across Africa and to build a global
United Methodist communications network, Nissen said.
Participants in the training will learn foundational
conference communications skills, knowledge and equipment application.
They will also be equipped to go back to their areas and train others.
The training is about much more than equipment or skills,
said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive of United Methodist
Communications.
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake Tafadzwa Mudambanuki (center) and Barbara Nissen (left rear) facilitate a meeting of Central Conference communicators.
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Tafadzwa
Mudambanuki (center) and Barbara Nissen (left rear), staff members of
the Communications Resourcing Team at United Methodist Communications,
facilitate a meeting of Central Conference communicators. Findings from
this July 2005 meeting were used to develop training materials for a two
week course to be held June 15-30 at Africa University. Thirty-one
participants from 17 African countries will build their skills as
Christian communicators and help build a global communications network
for the United Methodist Church. A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert. Photo
#06648. Accompanies UMNS story #343. 6/09/06. |
“We are also about understanding how communications
strengthens community,” he said. “We are entrusted with the
responsibility to communicate in our local communities of faith about
the important concerns of faith and everyday activities that make for a
healthy and whole life under God.”
Participants will take part in discussions about what it
means to be a Christian conference communicator and examine topics such
as how public relations relates to the role of the communicator.
Initiative gets under way
The two-week training is the latest step in the
initiative that started with a survey of 18 United Methodist bishops
from the central conferences in fall 2004. United Methodist
Communications staff visited Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and
Liberia in 2005 and three United Methodist areas in Europe in 2006.
Nissen and Mudambanuki also attended the National Association of
Filipino United Methodists last year.
“We decided the best thing to do would be to audit
communications needs and to determine what is needed to build a
communications infrastructure,” Nissen said. “We want to help people
tell the important stories that are going on in their church and in
their cultural setting.”
The Foundation for United Methodist Communications is
working to raise funds for establishing communication centers in each
United Methodist area. So far, the foundation has received funds to
establish a community radio station in Liberia and conference
communications centers in Zimbabwe, Central Congo, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory
Coast), North Katanga and South Africa.
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake The
Rev. Elias Zacarias Massicame (left) from Mozambique and Phileas Sapha
Jusu from Sierra Leone attend a communicators meeting at Africa
University.
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The
Rev. Elias Zacarias Massicame (left) from Mozambique and Phileas Sapha
Jusu from Sierra Leone attend a communicators meeting at Africa
University. Findings from this July 2005 meeting were used to develop
training materials for a two week course to be held June 15-30 at Africa
University. Thirty-one participants from 17 African countries will
build their skills as Christian communicators and help build a global
communications network for the United Methodist Church. A UMNS photo by
Kathy L. Gilbert. Photo #06649. Accompanies UMNS story #343. 6/09/06. |
The centers will be equipped with computers, cameras,
Internet access, radio and video capability and other vital
communication tools. Communication networks will include ham radios,
handheld radios and community radio stations.
“Nothing can supersede communications in spreading the
gospel,” said Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, Zimbabwe. “Communication is the
hallmark of doing ministry in all its various facets.”
“We are on a wonderful, challenging and life-enhancing
journey,” Hollon said. “We are privileged to communicate God’s love to a
broken world in which people feel alone and far too many suffer.
“We seek to bring the healing, reconciling and loving
words from God into this world so that people experience this love more
deeply and so that they have information to live by.”
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Audio Interviews
Barbara Nissen:
"We're doing it in two weeks."
Tafadzwa Mudambanuki:
"Information about life-saving issues."
Liberia Conference close to establishing radio station
African communicators meet, share ideas for future
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Resources
Central Conference Communications Initiative
Communications Resourcing Team
Foundation for United Methodist Communications
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