5 May 2010

NEPAL / FREE TEXT MESSAGING

UNICEF supports the launch of free SMS (Short Message Services) across Nepal that encourages the participation of young people to engage in public discussions and to have their voices heard. UNICEF

Posted at: May 5, 2010 5:12 pm

Duration: 01:31

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: NEPAL / FREE TEXT MESSAGING 
TRT: 1:31
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
 
DATELINE: 27 APRIL 2010, KATHMANDU, NEPAL
 
SHOTLIST
 
1.	Various shots, audience at event launch
2.	Med shot, audience members texting
3.	Pan right, audience watching screen
4.	Close up, hands texting on mobile phone
5.	SOUNDBITE  (English) Ayusha Shrestha, Youth Representative and 2003 Miss World University:
"This free facility will enable the young mobile users to connect to the worldwide web through UNICEF Nepal's website and the youth issues raised by the young mobile users are not only heard but will be addressed and discussed."
6.	Various shots, audience listening to speakers
7.	Wide shot, sign for Toll Freed 4400 SMS launch
8.	Various shot, audience
9.	Various shot, hands texting
10.	Med shot, 3 audience members
11.	Various shot, audience members
12.	SOUNDBITE (English) Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF Representative in Nepal:
"Whereby the young people of Nepal can text their opinions for free directly to the worldwide web. So, many young people are wishing to voice their opinions and participate in a larger community."
13.	Close up, hand being stamped with 4400
14.	Wide shot, launch
15.	Close up, sign saying Toll free launch
16.	Close up, homepage of Saathi Sanga Man Ka Kura 
17.	Various shots, audience members listening and texting
18.	Close up, texting on mobile phone
19.	Med shot, performers at lunch
20.	Various shots, audience members dancing
21.	Med shot, audience applauding

STORYLINE:

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and local radio show Saathi Sanga Manka Kura (SSMK) have undertaken a free text message initiative in response to the relatively low accessibility to computers in Nepal but very high access to radio and increasingly good access to mobile phones.

The toll-free number 4400 was designed for youths in Nepal so they could text in their views and comments to the global organization on issues that concern them.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ayusha Shrestha, Youth Representative and 2003 Miss World University:
"This free facility will enable the young mobile users to connect to the worldwide web through UNICEF Nepal's website and the youth issues raised by the young mobile users are not only heard but will be addressed and discussed."

Within the first couple hours after the launch, over 2,000 youths from both urban and rural areas had already texted in their messages. Depending on the volume and the nature of the response the service will be expanded and modified.

SOUNDBITE (English) Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF Representative in Nepal:
"Whereby the young people of Nepal can text their opinions for free directly to the worldwide web. So, many young people are wishing to voice their opinions and participate in a larger community."

SSMK - which is heard by about six million young people all over the country - will each week, initiate a topic of debate on air and invite opinions. Listeners can then text in their views and comments on the given topic by sending in text messages directly to the Voices of Youth section of UNICEF's Nepal website.