Catholic Journalists in Malawi have been drilled in care reforms and reintegration the Universal Church has embarked on and being implemented in four of the nine AMECEA conferences. Providing the training was Sr. Jecinta Olweny from the AMECEA Communications office on 26 August in the Catholic Diocese of Dedza’s lake shore side cottage where the Association of Catholic Journalists held their 6th Annual general meeting.
According to Sr. Jecinta, care for children is an ongoing concern in the AMECEA region. She said that in the past few years, there has been a concern for promotion of family-based or community-based care for children in the society and that Catholic Institutions took up this initiative and began awareness creation of holistic care of vulnerable children moving away from taking care of the vulnerable children in institutions.
“In the region, there are four countries that have embraced Catholic Care for children in the AMECEA Region and these area Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi. The aim of CCC is to help bring understanding to the people on the importance of having a holistic family and community-based care for the vulnerable children. Most vulnerable children are taken care of in institutions (CCI’s) which are homes that care for children who are physically challenged; rescue centres, which have a combination of children who have been abused sexually, physically and emotionally, children who are trafficked, those forced into some cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriages and other vulnerabilities,” said Sr. Jecinta.
She told the 60 members of the ACJ who gathered for their AGM that in 1989 world leaders, including the Holy See, signed the ground-breaking United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) that unequivocally articulates a child’s right to a family. She told the Catholic media professionals that Family life promotes a positive sense of identity, security and belonging, and it supports community participation.
members of ACJ
“Family life is the richest environment for acquiring cultural knowledge and life skills. Research has revealed that there are millions of children in institutions but nearly 80% of these children have at least a living parent Even though some children may not have both parents, these children have immediate families or relatives whom they could still stay with for full development. A suitable, family-like alternative is to be provided if need be. But we should realize that a child should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,” she said.
Sr. Jecinta Olweny told the Catholic scribes that the Holy See has a special Message on Child safeguarding. She said that the Pope believes that we cannot talk of child care without echoing the child safeguarding. She said that the Pope’s message is very clear that if anything, child care and child safeguarding go hand in hand.
“Pope Francis says that safeguarding vulnerable persons must be a priority for everyone in the church. He says that Children are the joy of the family and of society and that children are a gift. He considers each as unique and unrepeatable. He says that a society that is not surrounded by children, that considers them a problem, a burden, has no future. He says that the time has come, to work together to eradicate the evil of child abuse. This therefore is our call as journalists,” she said.
She told the meeting that the Role of Journalists on reporting Care reforms is enormous. She said that media has the ability to make a negative or positive impact on the perception of child abuse.
“Reporting helps in awareness creation and enlightenment of the public. Media promotes advocacy on behalf of children for the good of their wellbeing. This eventually arouse public opinion on issues and influence policymakers. Reporting child abuse helps prevent child abuse perpetrators and informs the public,” she said.
During the same meeting Dr. Matthews Mtumbuka an upcoming and blossoming business person and a prolific engineer trained the Catholic Journalists in entrepreneurship and Catholicism. He asked the journalists to stop keeping on complaining but rather focus on their dreams if they are to do well in life.
Mr. Andrew Kavala of the Malawi Network of Older Person’s Organisations encouraged the reporters to report on the plight of the elderly in humanitarian responses.
Catholic Journalists from all the eight dioceses in Malawi gathered at the Bishop Chitsulo Cottage in the lake side district of Salima, Diocese of Dedza to fulfill their annual mandate to review the past year’s activities and map the way forward for the year to come. Rev. Fr. Francis Damaseke who is also the National Social Communications Coordinator presided over the AGM on behalf of the Bishop Chairman for the Social Communications at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi.