The SIGNIS Asia Assembly (SAA) 2021 was held online with the theme “Partnering with People-centered Development Initiatives”. The Webinar Days featured presentations from experts from across Asia and beyond.
View SAA2021 Video Presentations at: https://www.signisasia.net/videos/
WEBINAR – 17-18 NOV 2021 (OPEN TO ALL)
ASSEMBLY DAY – 19 NOV 2021 (SIGNIS MEMBERS)
Time: Refer to Log in times below
Schedule: Refer to Poster Schedule below
Contests: Short Video Contest Poster & Best Comment Contest Poster
e-Posters: Quotes from speakers
FREE TO ATTEND. Registration closed.
We are living amidst COVID 19 that has changed our life dramatically. The political crises of Myanmar and Afghanistan and the changing climate further aggravates the situation making the issues more complex especially for the marginalised and the vulnerable in the region. Communal harmony continues to be a burning issue in South Asian countries. Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis.
In this scenario, we need to express our solidarity with the suffering masses and reflect on what contribution we can make towards bringing about peace and social justice and support people-centered development processes with our communication expertise.
People-centered development is an approach that focuses on improving local communities’ self-reliance, ensuring social justice, and access to participatory decision-making that affects their life. It is concerned about values of justice, sustainability, and inclusiveness in the process of development.
People-centered development advocates small-scale community actions to enhance economic self-reliance, social capital and creation of reliable sources of income. It is concerned with democratic processes, accountability, access to relevant information and gender equality.
Objectives:
- To understand the challenges faced by people due to COVID 19, climate changes and political crises and their impact and effect the ‘people-centered’ development process.
- To explore various possibilities of associating and participating with ‘people-centered’ development initiatives in different parts of Asia.
- To identify ways to means to mobilize resources and generate media materials to support development initiatives.
Log-in Timings
2pm–5.15pm PAKISTAN
2.30pm–5.45pm INDIA/ SRI LANKA
2.45pm–6pm NEPAL
3pm–6.15pm BANGLADESH
3.30pm–6.45pm MYANMAR
4pm–7.15pm CAMBODIA/ INDONESIA/ THAILAND/ VIETNAM
5pm–8.15pm HONG KONG/ PHILIPPINES/ MACAU/ MALAYSIA/ SINGAPORE/ TAIWAN
6pm–9.15pm JAPAN/ KOREA/ TIMOR LESTE
Please adjust accordingly for time differences of other countries not listed.
SAA2021 Poster Schedule
View/Download Poster Schedule
17 NOV (Day 1) – BKK Time
1600 Prayer Song: Evans Dominic, Bangladesh
1605 Welcome Address: Fr. Joseph Anucha Chayadej, President, SIGNIS Asia
1610 Webinar Dynamics: Dr. Magimai Pragasam, Vice President, SIGNIS Asia and Webinar Coordinator
1620 Inaugural Address: Mr. Lawrence John, Vice President, SIGNIS World
1630 Keynote Address: Current Challenges of Asia (Covid-19, Political and Economic Crises, Climate Change and their Impact on ‘People-centered’ Development Processes) – Dr. Bernard D’ Sami, Director, Loyola Institute of Social Science Training and Research, (LISSART) Loyola College, India
1650 Presentation 1: Understanding ‘People-centered’ Development – Ms. Pie Mabanta-Fenomeno, Vice-President, Communication Foundation of Asia (CFA), Philippines
1705 Presentation 2: The Political Situation in Myanmar and its Impact on people – Dr. Francis Kok Wah Loh, Universiti Sains Malaysia
1720 Presentation 3: The Digital Divide in Asia – Dr. Donghun Chung, Professor, Kwangwoon University, South Korea
1735 Presentation 4: Issues of Climate Change in Asia – Dr. Arul Aram, Prof and Head, Department of Media Sciences, Anna University, Chennai, India
1750 Song by SIGNIS Thailand
1800 Presentation 5: The Vulnerability of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan – Prof. Jinwon Lee, The Center for Human Rights and Gender Equity, Korean University, South Korea
1815 Presentation 6: Being with People of Myanmar– Action by Asian Youth – Ms. Alice Tan, Youth4Myanmar Campaign, Coalition of Catholic Youth Movements in Asia
1830 Presentation 7: Protecting our Common Home – Fr. Frans de Sales SCJ, Director, Social Communication Commission of Palembang Archdiocese, Indonesia
1845 Announcing the prize-winning Short Film: Mr. Mac Machida, Chair, SIGNIS Asia Cinema Desk
Announcing the winners of the Best Comment: Mr. Kim Francis, Chair, SIGNIS TV Desk
1900 Concluding Remarks – End of Day 1
18 NOV (Day 2) – BKK Time
1600 Opening Prayer: Fr. Qaiser Feroz – President, SIGNIS Pakistan
1605 Introduction to SIGNIS World Assembly in Korea – Dr. Anna Jihyun You, SIGNIS Korea
1615 Recap of Previous Day – Fr. Lal Fernando, President, SIGNIS Sri Lanka
1620 Presentation 8: Reflection and Prayer – ‘We Support Women of Myanmar’
1635 Presentation 9: People-centered Action – Empowering the Marginalised at the Grassroots – Mr. Shouri Reddy, Executive Director, Balavikasa Social Service Society, India
1650 Presentation 10: Live Together and Share Life with People – A practice of Japan Lay Missionary Movement – Mr. Hiroshi Urushibara, JLMM, Japan
1705 Presentation 11: Success Stories of Development Communication in Asia – Sr. Patricia Michelle Mathias FSP, Assistant Professor cum Registrar, NISCORT, PhD scholar, SMFE, Sharda University, India
1720 Presentation 12: The Art of Resource Mobilisation at Local level – Ms. Bernadetta Widiandajani, Director, Persada NGO, Indonesia
1735 Song by Bernard Canaberal, President, SIGNIS Philippines
1740 Presentation 13: The Church’s Perspectives on Development – Fr. Paul, Samsumo, Director, Radio Vatican, Rome
1755 Session 14: Action Plan and Summary – Mr. Aloysius James, International ‘people-centered’ development expert
1815 Announcing the prize-winning Short Film: Mr. Mac Machida, Chair, SIGNIS Asia Cinema Desk
Announcing the winners of the Best Comment: Mr. Kim Francis, Chair, SIGNIS TV Desk
1825 Presentation of the Statement of the Webinar: Ms. Adeline James, Chair, SIGNIS Asia Journalism Desk
1835 Evaluation of the Webinar and Announcements: Ms. Bernadetta Widiandajani, Secretary, SIGNIS Asia
1845 Vote of Thanks: Fr. Joseph Anucha Chayadej, SIGNIS Asia President
1855 Closing Remarks: Dr. Magimai Pragasam, Webinar Coordinator
1900 Closing Prayer: Fr. Stanley Kozhichira, President, SIGNIS India
19 NOV (Day 3) for Members – BKK Time
1600 – 1620 Opening prayer | Roll call & Introduction, Opening remarks | Approval of agenda and President’s Report | Approval of the Study Days Statement
1620 – 1635 Minutes of the SIGNIS Asia Assembly 2020
1635 – 1650 Financial Report
1650 – 1735 Country Report by Member Countries
1735 – 1810 Screening Committee Guidelines Briefing
1810 – 1840 Desks Reports
1840 – 1850 Welcome to Korea for SIGNIS World Congress 2022
1850 – 1900 Any other matters
1900 – 1910 Regarding SAA 2022
1910 – 1925 Remarks by SIGNIS World President
1925 – 1930 Closure by SIGNIS Asia President
SAA2021 3-min Video Contest
View/Download 3-min Video Contest Poster
SAA2021 Best Comment Contest
View/Download Best Comment Contest Poster
Quotes from Speakers
For further information contact:
SA Secretary:
Bernadetta Widiandayani (Widi) – widiandayani@yahoo.com | +62 815686 5964
SA Study Day Coordinator:
Magimai Pragasam – magimai2005@gmail.com | +91 94441 32111
Post-event:
With the support of the Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith
ARCHIVE:
The SIGNIS Asia Assembly (SAA) 2020 was held online on Zoom platform with the theme “Covid-19: The Role of Media & Communication and Moving Beyond”. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SAA2020 was conducted online with Study Day Webinars on 18th and 19th of November. SIGNIS Business Day for Members was held on 20th November. The duration of the Study Days and Business Day was 3 hours 15 mins on each day. Synopsis of SAA2020 Webinar