16 Dec 2009

COLOMBIA / EMERGENCY EDUCATION

In Colombia, children have been adversely affected by ongoing conflict and natural disasters. Through UNICEF partnerships, educational programs are helping children recover from emergency situations and a legacy of turbulent times. UNICEF

Posted at: December 16, 2009 5:11 pm

Duration: 01:38

Available in: SD

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STORY: COLOMBIA / EMERGENCY EDUCATION
TRT: 1.38
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SPANISH

DATELINE: 14-18 SEPTEMBER 2009, COLOMBIA

SHOTLIST:

14 SEPTEMBER 2009, BELLO, COLOMBIA

1. Aerial shot, Medellin city

17 SEPTEMBER 2009, LORICA, MONTERIA, COLOMBIA

2. Wide shot, flooded yard

15 SEPTEMBER 2009, MORAVIA, COLOMBIA

3. Wide shot, boy sitting

13 SEPTEMBER 2009, BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Martin, UNICEF Representative in Colombia:
"The biggest challenge in Colombia is violence. Violence in the family, violence in the school, violence in the street. Obviously, the organized violence of criminals and rebel groups. It is a country that is quite traumatized by violence."

15 SEPTEMBER 2009, NIKITAO, MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA

5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Unidentified Girl:
"We need money, we don't have parents that can take care of us."

17 SEPTEMBER 2009, LORICA, MONTERIA, COLOMBIA

6. Med shot, Clara Serna talking to young boys

15 SEPTEMBER 2009, NIKITAO, MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA

7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Clara Serna, coordinator, "Escuela Busca al Niño":
"We go to the neighbourhoods, we find the children that are not in school and we evaluate them and then we start to talk to the family to find out why they are not in school and then when we find out why, then we start to resolve the problem, their own specific problems."

15 SEPTEMBER 2009, MORAVIA, COLOMBIA
8. Med shot, students
9. Wide shot, teacher teaching
10. Wide shot, children exiting school

15 SEPTEMBER 2009, MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA

11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ana Lucia Hincapie, Sub-Secretary of Education of Medellin:
"We've passed from just providing services to focusing on rights. In that way we can ensure that all the rights of children in the city are being met, independently of their cultural, economic background."

14 SEPTEMBER 2009, BELLO, COLOMBIA

12. Wide shot, children outside the school

15 SEPTEMBER 2009, MORAVIA, COLOMBIA

13. Med shot, teacher helping a child

17 SEPTEMBER 2009, LORICA, MONTERIA, COLOMBIA

14. Wide shot, teacher teaching

15 SEPTEMBER 2009, MORAVIA, COLOMBIA

15. Med shot, child doing schoolwork

STORYLINE:

For the past 40 years, Colombia has undergone a serious humanitarian crisis, enduring social unrest and numerous natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. The impact on children and young people is particularly devastating, and protecting them from harm is a priority.

SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Martin, UNICEF Representative in Colombia:
"The biggest challenge in Colombia is violence. Violence in the family, violence in the school, violence in the street. Obviously, the organized violence of criminals and rebel groups. It is a country that is quite traumatized by violence."

The instability has left many children vulnerable and out on the streets.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Unidentified Girl:
"We need money, we don't have parents that can take care of us."

'Escuela Busca Al Nino',   or, the School Going to the Child Programme, seeks out at-risk children and brings them into the school system.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Clara Serna, coordinator, "Escuela Busca al Niño":
"We go to the neighbourhoods, we find the children that are not in school and we evaluate them and then we start to talk to the family to find out why they are not in school and then when we find out why, then we start to resolve the problem, their own specific problems."

The School Going to the Child is one of several partnerships that have been set up between Colombia's Ministry of Education, UNICEF, civil society groups and others, which help children get off the streets and back in school where they can be protected and educated.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ana Lucia Hincapie, Sub-Secretary of Education of Medellin:
"We've passed from just providing services to focusing on rights. In that way we can ensure that all the rights of children in the city are being met, independently of their cultural, economic background." 
For Colombia's children the struggle to stay out of harm's way and thrive, centers on their right to a quality education. Education that restores children's rights will also restore hope for the country's future.