Fr. Dani Villanueva presentation offered a response to the question how technology can help build the Jesuit international network. To answer this question, Fr. Dani offered six examples.
Fr. Dani first offered the interesting example of Recaptha as effective and massive on line collaboration that is helping to digitize one million books. Another example Dani offered was his friend Kasum, a mother in the JRS camp in northwest Kenya who earns money through international online work.
Using Kony 2012 viral You Tube video, Dani then highlighted how innovation, not simply technology, is bringing positive change, democracy, and social justice. Thirty percent of the world is connected, and the Society of Jesus has a unique opportunity to share the Good News in transformative and massive ways.
Dani then posed the question why didn't Pedro Arrupe begin JRS through traditional province structures, as always. Dani offered that perhaps Arrupe understood the refugee situation as a global crisis that required a global response, not hampered by traditional boarders. Fe y Alegria is another example of how technology and innovation aid global connectedness to respond to global challenges. Using programs such as Illuminate, technology strengthens this connection. another example Dani offered was the example of G.C. 35, which used a microsite to connect the world to the proceedings in real time for the first time, promoting the union of hearts and minds. This was asked by Jesuits spread through the world, not the Curia. But it was the delegates themselves that used the website the most, blogging and creating several Facebook pages. Another example is that the Magis program connected with World Youth Day optimized the how youth interact through technology at that event. Dani assembled an international team of communication professionals to connect youth across the world to connect to the event in real time.
Other examples Dani offered are not events but sustainable international programs that leverage technology. Jesuit Commons offers higher education at the margins through Jesuit university partners for refugee camps in Africa. Global Ignatian Advocacy Network is another global example connected through technology.
In conclusion, Dani challenged the audience to listen to how people are using technology to connect, and how these tools could be used to help us: to move from superficial communication to transformational communion. Mature organizations will creatively respond to this opportunity Dani suggested, by previous examples of Fe y Alegria and JRS. This will require trust and openness.
Three challenges Dani offered our sector:
1) study of penetration of technology
2) knowledge management consultation
3) mapping of the network
www.jesuitnetworking.org
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