22 Nov 2012

AZERBAIJAN / SHAKIRA

Singer-songwriter and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira recently visited Azerbaijan, where UNICEF and the national governing soccer body have worked together to promote girls’ education by empowering girls through sports. UNICEF

Posted at: November 22, 2012 12:34 am

Duration: 02:40

Available in: SD

DOWNLOAD

Full script

STORY: AZERBAIJAN / SHAKIRA
TRT: 2.40
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / AZERBAIJANI / NATS
 
DATELINE: 15 OCTOBER 2012, BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, female football players from the National U17 Team on the football pitch at the Dalga arena/Football stadium
2. Med shot, football players getting on the FIFA Women Under 17 World Cup official
3. Close up, FIFA Women Under 17 World Cup logo on bus
4. SOUND-UP (Azerbaijani) young players:
"We are going for (a meeting with) Shakira!"
5: Med shot, Shakira walking into the meeting room
6: Med shot, Shakira sitting with the girl players in front of the UNICEF banner
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Shakira, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador:
"I know Azerbaijan has many challenges in the field of education such as getting more girls enrolled at school and improving the quality of education: I know that the girls tend to be married off very early in their lives so…Sport is a great tool to socialize and also is a great tool for government and to society in general to keep kids in the school.
8. Med shot, girls listening to Shakira
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Shakira, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador:
"The Government of Azerbaijan as well as the civil society in general should work in hand to hand to be able to guaranty that the every child goes to school. No matter what gender – the boys or the girls, or no matter where they live. The areas more problematic are rural areas and so we need to focus on those areas."
10. Wide shot, meeting room and girl playing with a football 
12. Med shot, Shakira receiving a ball signed by the girl players as a present
13. Med shot, football coach with football keeper
14. Close up, FIFA Women Under 17 World Cup logo on T shirt
15. Various shots, girls playing football
16. Med shot, players walking in to stadium
17. Wide shot, girls kicking footballs
18. Med shot, girls receiving instruction by coach
19. Various shots, warm up exercises
20. Med shot, girl kicking football
21. Med shot, football players listening to experts at the UNICEF office
22. Close up, UNICEF officer talking to the girl
23. SOUNDBITE (Azerbaijani) Sanay Fatullayeva, 13 years old:
"Girls must be free in their decision on when and whom to marry. It is totally wrong when a girl is forced to marry a boy she doesn't even know"
24. Close shot, Azerbaijan flag
25. Wide shot, view of Baku
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Hereward, UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan:
"It is an unfortunate fact that there are girls who are so dispirited with the education they are receiving that they really consider it better to get married or drop out or do something else than to complete the whole course of education."
27. Various shots, football match

STORYLINE:
 
The air was abuzz with excitement at the Baku Stadium in Azerbaijan.

These girls from a UNICEF-supported National Football League warmed up to meet world famous singer and songwriter Shakira.

SOUND-UP (Azerbaijani) young players:
"We are going for (a meeting with) Shakira!"

Shakira, who was in Azerbaijan for the closing ceremony of the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, seized the opportunity to promote girls education.
 
SOUNDBITE (English), Shakira UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador:
"I know Azerbaijan has many challenges in the field of education such as getting more girls enrolled at school and improving the quality of education: I know that the girls tend to be married off very early in their lives so. Sport is a great tool to socialize and also is a great tool for government and to society in general to keep kids in the school. The Government of Azerbaijan as well as the civil society in general should work in hand to hand to be able to guaranty that the every child goes to school. No matter what gender – the boys or the girls, or no matter where they live. The areas more problematic are rural areas and so we need to focus on those areas."
 
Since 2011, UNICEF and the national governing soccer body the Associations of Football Federations of Azerbaijan have worked together to empower girls through sports.

Young footballers learn about their rights and the importance of their skills through discussions with UNICEF experts.

Armed with that information, they travel in teams to small towns and villages and spread the message to other girls who don't have opportunities they do.

For many in Azerbaijan, child marriage is a reality they're forced to live with.

SOUNDBITE (Azerbaijani) Sanay Fatullayeva, 13 years old: 
"Girls must be free in their decision on when and whom to marry. It is totally wrong when a girl is forced to marry a boy she doesn't even know"
 
SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Hereward, UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan:
"It is an unfortunate fact that there are girls who are so dispirited with the education they are receiving that they really consider it better to get married or drop out or do something else than to complete the whole course of education."

And that's why UNICEF is focusing its efforts on education and sports - powerful tools to help girls achieve greater heights and make them equal players in society.