34 JCAM 2022 www.jesuits.africa Annual Review ollaborating in Development to Enhance the Mission of the Society Agatha Chidera Nwile Programs Officer, North-West Africa Province (ANW) C The presentations at the 2022 JEDOAM pointed to trends of giving The relationship between communications and development gets which are changing. People now give to charitable projects broader frequently and so to ensure that the ANW Province is in involving the consequences of war, the needs of children, women tune with the dynamics, we need to look beyond sitting in our and disease, the media are also very quick to talk about these. This offices to write grant applications and embrace the use of can pose a challenge to ANW Province (and others) where we have communication techniques. The volume of work in the construction projects to cater for. However, this also serves as a development office can be reduced if the right communication push to explore other ways of locally raising funds especially platforms are utilized, such that links and handles with the outside our regular donors. necessary details are shared instead of word-of-mouth explanations. During my two weeks of internship, I worked with the The set up in Africama House Jesuit Development Director was one I had never come on a fundraising project in across anywhere else. Each Gambia and scrutinized some unit has their function but of our previously completed they also depend on the projects. This project was an communications expert to eye opener to the points we develop suitable content for overlooked while writing our public consumption. The job grant applications. Fr. Paul roles and units (AJAN, JENA, Hamill, also gave suggestions Safeguarding, Synodality) are on maintaining our relevance also unique and educative. within the community of benefactors. I am able to speak about the provinces and JCAM because I The four days spent with Conference Communications Officer was travelled to Nairobi and learned from those travels. But I strongly indeed overwhelming and filled with many details. I heard different believe that our ability to function successfully across the terminologies and applications regarding the Communication Conference should not always or only be on account our travels; we methods we could adopt in our office. I struggled to understand need to learn to do better and share information and experiences some of the details owing to the fact that I do not have a and knowledge in more accessible ways. background in communication.