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Database ICT & Audio-Visual Services Unit
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Introduction The “Database, ICT and Audio-Visual Services Unit” is a new unit in the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS) established since January 2009. Though the Unit is new, the activities are not new for ECS. The activities which are organized under this Unit were forming part of the activities of the previously known as the “Social Communications Department” till the end of 2008. Objectives of the Unit 1. Establish the Ethiopian Catholic Church Database at National and Diocesan level. 2. Establish the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat ICT infrastructure to facilitate production and dissemination of organizational information. 3. Produce documentary films & sound productions and provide journalistic coverage for Church activities by making use of Audio and Video equipment.
Major Activities Accomplished 1. It is well known that the Ethiopian Catholic Church is running a large number of activities in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, these activities are not well documented in a modern way such as a database system. Thus, ECS expects to have a well consolidated database for all these activities so that people are able to make reference to it for the purpose of getting information, developing a research work and supporting the staff in planning the currently on-going activities. Accordingly, there are steps made to achieve the establishment of the mentioned Database. a. Data collection process has been put into operation some years before in various Dioceses. Nevertheless because of lack of proper awareness of the activity, the operation was not fully successful. However, the presence of the operation by itself has given to the Dioceses and to ECS a good lesson and experience on how to implement effectively the data collection process in the future. b. Currently awareness is created at national and diocesan level regarding the importance of having a Database. c. Accordingly a new approach on data collection process is designed and is ready to be implemented by the different units of ECS in collaboration with this Unit.
2. ECS had a long time vision of consolidating its activities by making use of the new technologies of information and infrastructure. By bringing this to reality it is believed that the quality of information and processing speed of the staff, information sharing with internal and external partners, and information dissemination at global level will be improved considerably; and as a result of these the working relationship with the Diocesan Secretariats will be enhanced significantly. Accordingly, a. ECS offices are furnished with modern IT equipments and thus the department provides ongoing follow-up mechanism of maintenance for the hardware and for the proper functioning of the software applications. b. ECS internet dial-up system which has been providing service at a limited level is now widened to all the offices as a result of introduction of wireless broadband internet facilities and intra-mail information exchange system which facilitates the net-working system of the organization. The unit follow-ups the proper functioning of the system and takes proper measures upon getting problems with it. c. The Ethiopian Catholic Church web site (ecs.org.et), which has started functioning since August 2005 provides important information about the overall activities of the Church and gives coverage to current church news. 3. There are large number of activities run by the Ethiopian Catholic Church, its Dioceses and congregations. However, these activities are not properly documented in such a way that, this and the next generation be privileged to know what the church has been and is doing in promoting the integral development of human being in this country; and consequently to get lesson from the strengths and weakness of the past and become visible with stronger and improved approach that help go ahead.
To achieve this, ECS believes that consolidating the Audio and Video activities and using it for documentation purposes is indispensable for the Church’s strength. Accordingly, though it is still at low level, this Unit has been and is still providing Audio-Visual Services for the mentioned purposes.
Currently a big
project is designed and fund is secured for that to establish Audio-Video
studio at ECS with the objective of elevating the services of this section
to larger scale.
Expectation in the near future
By doing this: a. The use of the current intra-mail service by ECS staff will be exploited significantly and the net working system will be appreciated accordingly. b. The previously mentioned database will get a proper place to be manipulated by the concerned persons making use of the ECS server and the networking system c. ECC web site will provide wide and updated information to the internal and external partners, donors and interested groups. The activities of the organization will be promoted extensively as the awareness towards the use of websites reach to higher level within ECS staff.
Within the activity we can mention: a. The Church songs produced in the different dioceses of ECC will then get the opportunity to be recorded at this studio. b. Similarly the large number of events performed at the different dioceses will also be entertained in this studio. A part from the activities it is providing to the Church, it can also start generating a realistic income for the church once the quality and capacity of the studio is deep-rooted. By this the church will get additional capacity to enhance its activities to those who are in need of her services. Address:
Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat
This page was last updated on 10/10/2009 |
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©2005 Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat |