WACC Africa region will hold a seminar on Peace Journalism. The seminar which will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 26-27th March 2010, is intended for journalists in print or broadcast media or communication officers who report on or are interested in reporting on conflict situations.

WACC Africa region invites you to participate in this seminar. To apply, send a request to the WACC Africa Secretariat. Please put "Peace Journalism seminar" in the subject line. The application deadline is 5th March 2010. Successful applicants will be informed by 10th March 2010.

By Stella Etemesi, Secretary, WACC Africa Region

Here it is, the final edition of The Beacon newsletter for the year 2009!

The year has not been without challenges for the publication's editorial team, but we are glad to have scored several successes as well, not least being the revival of the newsletter and the production of 3 editions during 2009. It is our prayer that 2010 will see The Beacon achieve even bigger and better things.

Happy reading!

Click here to read the December 2009 edition.

By Rev. Achowah Umenei, President WACC Africa Region

Love has no meaning unless it takes concrete form. We know what love is and what it does when we can see and touch it. That is what the apostle John tells us about God and how He showed His love for the world. John says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in H im should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  Imagine that God remained in heaven and just splashed the words, “I love the world”. That would have meant nothing to anybody. But the fact that He sent His only Son to come down and rescue the human race from sin and death made a lot of difference. We are redeemed and given the hope of everlasting life at the close of the age.

By Stella Etemesi, Secretary, WACC Africa Region

In the last issue of The Beacon, the revival of the regional newsletter was proclaimed after a long absence from the scene. Now, the challenge of keeping it alive begins.  Putting together the second issue has been a challenge. "Our stumbling block is that the communicators are not communicating!" says, the publication's editor.

"To keep The Beacon alive we need you - the members and friends of WACC Africa Region - to be part of the revival.  The newsletter can only keep going if the WACC-AR family play their part by sharing information and news through it," is the editor's appeal to readers of the second edition.

 Click here to read the October edition of The Beacon newsletter. The third edition will be published soon.

Par Mathilde Kpalla, Membre du Comité Executif de la WACC, Région Afrique

Du 03 au 04 novembre 2009, dans le cadre du Projet Mondial de Monitoring des Médias (GMMP), les coordinateurs et coordinatrices des pays francophones de la zone Afrique de l’ouest et Centrale se sont retrouvés en session de formation à Lomé au Togo.

 All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), Press release

The International Committee of the Fellowship of the Least Coin (ICFLC), a worldwide ecumenical movement for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation is coming to Kenya for its 29th Annual Meeting. The Kenyan Minister for Public Health and Sanitation, Hon. Mrs Beth Mugo will deliver the key note speech at the opening ceremony. It will be the second time that the ICFLC will be holding its annual meeting in Kenya since 1991.

By Kayode Iyalla, Development Communications Network, Nigeria

A grant has been awarded to five Nigerian journalists to explore issues surrounding the needless deaths of women and children in Nigeria. Winners of the 2009 grant for “Investigative Report on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health” announced today in Lagos would investigate circumstances surrounding the death of about 145 women everyday, due to complications of pregnancy and child birth, as well as the over 1 million under five who die in Nigeria annually.