7 Oct 2011

SRI LANKA / CATHAL RYAN TRUST

The Cathal Ryan Trust is investing millions of dollars in education and health in northern Sri Lanka. Based in Ireland, the Trust was founded in memory of the late Cathal Ryan, a highly successful Irish businessman who spent time in Sri Lanka in the late 1970′s. UNICEF

Posted at: October 7, 2011 4:11 pm

Duration: 03:24

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: SRI LANKA / CATHAL RYAN TRUST
TRT: 3.24
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
 
DATELINE: 28 SEPTEMBER 2011, VAVUNIYA, SRI LANKA
 
SHOTLIST:
 
1. Wide shot, man on skates dancing
2. Close shot, skates
3. Med shot, clown playing with tennis balls behind podium
4. Close shot, puppet
5. Wide shot, troupe performing for children with brooms
6. Med shot, students laughing
7. Med shot, aerial acrobat hanging onto a rope tied to a tree
8. Wide shot, aerial acrobat performing on a rope tied to a tree
9. Med shot, girl clapping
10. Med shot, soldiers smiling and watching clowns perform
11. Med shot, UNICEF workers distributing ice-cream to children
12. Med shot, little girl holding ice-cream cup
13. Med shot, boy eating ice-cream
14. Med shot, Danielle Ryan sitting amidst audience and smiling
15. Wide shot, pan left to right, school children standing for morning assembly
16. Wide shot, children marching with a band
17. Close shot, drums
18. Various shots, girls perform a traditional Sri Lankan dance
19. Wide shot, members of the Cathal Ryan Trust sitting in the audience and watching the performance
20. Close shot, member of the Cathal Ryan Trust
21. Wide shot, new school building with flags fluttering in the wind
22. Various shots, students in the classroom
23. Various shots, students clapping and interacting with members of the Cathal Ryan Trust
24. Med shot, 13-year-old Robinsini
25. SOUNDBITE (English) George Gill, member of the Ryan Trust -
"I look at a building like this in an area like this…it's just so full of possibilities and everything, I'm very moved."
26. Wide shot, cars driving on a dirt road
27. Wide shot, Cathal Ryan represenatives entering the new maternity ward
28. Med shot, Danielle Ryan inaugurating an Obstetric ward
29. Various shots, Danielle Ryan examines the  new antenatal and postnatal units and speaks to nurses
30. Med shot, mothers and children
31. Close shot, little girls
32. SOUNDBITE (English) Danielle Ryan, Cathal Ryan Trust Spokesperson:
" I'm very impressed with the way the country is progressing and a lot of that comes down to the people themselves, they want to get on with things and they are getting on with things. There's amazing resilience in them and they just decide that life has to start from somewhere, you have to leave certain amount behind and what we are just doing is trying to facilitate that in whatever way we can. We've spent a lot of time trying to listen as much as possible to what they've wanted and they seem pleased so I'm happy that they are pleased."
33. Wide shot, shift focus shot of a broken roof
34. Wide shot, war damaged building
35. SOUNDBITE (English) Reza Hossaini , UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative -
"The significance of today is it clearly shows an example of a person who had a vision and that vision was that- if you want a prosperous Sri Lanka, if you want a peaceful Sri Lanka, you have to invest in its children and that's why by giving a good start with investment in health systems, and help them to grow to their full potential with quality education ...it helps with the future development, prosperity and a lasting peace of the country"
36. Med shot, Danielle Ryan cutting a ribbon
37. Med shot, children clapping
38. Various shots, puppet show at school

STORYLINE:
 
Children respond with smiles and laughter as a travelling company, 'Clowns without Borders', wittily engage in the universal language of slapstick, puppetry and some daredevil climbing and tumbling.

Life here has been precarious, during nearly 30 years of conflict but two years of peace has generated fresh hope.

It's a moment to savour a rare treat.

Among the clown's audience are the representatives of the Cathal Ryan Trust from Ireland. It is their remarkable generosity that has made this – and much more – possible in this part of the world.

The Cathal Ryan Trust is investing millions of US dollars in education and health facilities in Sri Lanka.

This new school stands like a beacon in the landscape. It has 11 classrooms, for 200 or more pupils, between the ages of six and 16 who are clearly as pleased as punch with their new lives. At last, a permanent place of learning to call their own.

SOUNDBITE (English) George Gill, member of the Ryan Trust:
"I look at a building like this in an area like this,it's just so full of possibilities and everything, I'm very moved."

Hope's on the horizon as the dust settles over this island nation. A new maternity ward serving a population of 11,000 women and their babies.

Antenatal and postnatal units, a labour room, and sections for doctors and medical staff. All this means 24 hours care, seven days a week.

SOUNDBITE (English) Danielle Ryan, Cathal Ryan Trust Spokesperson:
" I'm very impressed with the way the country is progressing and a lot of that comes down to the people themselves, they want to get on with things and they are getting on with things. There's amazing resilience in them and they just decide that life has to start from somewhere, you have to leave certain amount behind and what we are just doing is trying to facilitate that in whatever way we can...we've spent a lot of time trying to listen as much as possible to what they've wanted and they seem pleased so I'm happy that they are pleased."

Last Februaruy, The Cathal Ryan Trust presented a contribution of $14 million to help some of the most vulnerable children in Sri Lanka.

Globally, if the 2015 MDG targets of universal primary education and gender equality are to be met, it is critical now, more than ever, to step up commitments and invest wisely in education interventions.

The two-year partnership with the Trust, based in Ireland, will support a range of integrated education and health initiatives in the South Asian island nation.  The Trust was founded in memory of the late Cathal Ryan, a highly successful Irish businessman who spent time in Sri Lanka in the late 1970's.