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Solomon Students Present Short Films in Media Education Project

Honiara, October 21, 2006 (Stephanie March) - Around 35 people gathered at SIBC Conference Hall, on 21st October, 2006 for the 2006 Media Education Presentation for School students. Teachers, facilitators, animators and special guests joined the students from St Joseph’s Tenaru, St Johns Rove, Bishop Epalle Rove and the Don Bosco Technical Institute to watch the short films made during the media education seminars.

(JPEG) The minute long films dealt with many issues that young Solomon Islanders deal with in their daily lives including study, alcohol abuse and crime. Catholic Communications Solomon director Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb, was very impressed with the skills demonstrated by the students and encouraged them to continue making programs for radio and TV broadcast as a way of sharing their stories with the world. "There is a lot of energy and zeal among the youth and all it needs is to be channeled," he said. "The creativity among the students and the young is amazing."

Br. Cornelius Keleto fms, St. Joseph’s Media animator was also pleased with the results of the students who attended the seminars. "A lot happened to my students at the seminars - not only with media but also with self-esteem," he said. CCS presented each participant present with a t-shirt and each school received a wind-up radio donated by H. E. Richard Lyne, British High Commissioner.

The presentation morning also gave the students an opportunity to discuss the critical need for media awareness among young people living in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific. Pacific Media consultant Lisa Williams-Lahari spoke powerfully about the need for Solomon Islanders to become media savvy if they want to create a positive future for their country. "Solomon Islands can’t escape from the media. It’s not going away, so you have to understand it," she said. Ms Williams-Lahari highlighted the need for media education in order to get young people involved with the media policy and decision making that affect their lives. "When young people are media literate they shape and reshape media policy," Ms Williams-Lahari said. "When you do become media literate, all the people who control the media have to take notice of you and listen to you." She encouraged the young to get involved in the YouthTV programme to commence broadcast in Honiara in early 2007.

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