SIGNIS launches its first Global Fellowship Programme in Odisha

By Matters India Reporter

Bhubaneswar, Jan 31, 2020: SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communications) in collaboration with Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB), India launched Jan 25 the first certificate course in Compassion and Social Communications.

The intensive global media fellowship in Compassion and Social Communications was developed by Xavier Center for Humanities and Compassion Studies and Xavier School of Communications of XUB.

This five-month programme focuses on Compassion and Social Communications and integrates “Laudato Si” (caring for our common home) as its key component.

‘Laudato si’ is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. It has the subtitle “On Care for Our Common Home” published in 2015. It focuses on the environment and sustainable development.

Over the next three months, 10 young Catholic media professionals will follow an intensive course at XUB campus in Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha, Eastern India.

Overall aims of the Fellowship are to conscientise communicators to the critical challenges facing our Common Home today and to shape communicative action strategies nurturing a common home for all.

The Fellows will work within the universal concerns of the Social Teaching of the Church, focusing on the meanings and messages of Laudato Si.

The programme would help to form over the years a global networked community of Laudato Si Fellows to promote environmental issues.

“After nearly three years of preparation, the first SIGNIS-XUB Global Fellowship program on Compassion and Social Communication-Laudato Si began this week,” said EL Jay, a member of Signis Asia.

SIGNIS has several regional and national offices around the world. It partners with UNESCO, Council of Europe and other key international bodies in the service of social communication and social justice.

SIGNIS also collaborates with a wide variety of organizations (inter-governmental, NGOs, Catholic, ecumenical) working in the field of communications to enhance the effectiveness of its work and to promote media for a culture of peace.