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SOUTH SUDAN / SCHOOL CHILDREN SONG
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / SCHOOL CHILDREN SONG
TRT: 6:48
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: APRIL RECENT, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, students singing
2. Med shot, studio of Radio Miraya, presenters pan to computers, then back to presenters, track to students in studio and their teacher
3. Close up, set-up of teacher
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Madiei Daniel Deng, Patron Music Dance and Drama Club:
“We sing and we enact dramas mostly on how children suffer. [For example] there is a song about the suffering of children in all the states. We [have sung] about the suffering of children, about the suffering of soldiers, so that a good-hearted person can understand and will try [their best by all] means to help those groups. [Their] help will change the nation. The messages will be heard in the songs.”
5. Various shots, students in studio
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Aluel, student:
“There are many orphans suffering, and no one is supporting them. If our leaders will support them then we will have hope, because we shall be happy when orphans are in school with us.”
7. Various shots, students in studio
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Emmanuel Gol Mayang:
“The changes which I want to see in South Sudan are: the government should build enough resources for them for the orphans, children and the soldiers, so that there can be good security. These are the changes we want - good security, good hospitals, good schools, and development of the country.”
9. Various shots, students singing inside studio
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Agyen Deng Mayeng:
“The way the children here are suffering is not good. So, I joined the club. If there is a way the leaders could help us so that these orphans can get education, good hospitals and good security.”
11. Various shots, students singing inside studio
12. Close up, Radio Miraya presenters
13. Med shot, presenter engaging with students
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Irene Lasu, Radio Miraya, Breakfast Show Presenter:
“We got an emotional moment when this teacher was breaking down things for us. We hope that this does not just end up being a song. We hope that this song can reach out to the people concerned, to the leaders concerned, that they need to think about it - so many people have hope in this country.”
15.Various shots, presenters in studio
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Lucy Kiden, Radio Miraya, Breakfast Show:
“We just had to have them at Radio Miraya. We just had to have them here so that everyone in South Sudan is able to experience what these kids are trying to portray. I mean our job is to amplify any message for peace, any call for peace, and together hopefully one day we will achieve and realize that peace.”
17. Med shot, exterior, students singing song
A song like no other by a group of South Sudanese primary school students is making its rounds on various social media platforms in South Sudan, and the world.
According to the United Nations Mission in the country (UNMISS), the song has been described as a thought-provoking story.
In just six minutes, students and their teachers narrate difficulties every common South Sudanese is faced with, as they go about their lives in their homeland – the world’s newest country.
The song’s lyrics are nostalgic, evoking memories of the hope that independence brought in 2011 and charting its slow death due to repeated, bloody civil wars and conflict.
It ends with a poignant refrain and the big question – where is the promise?
The budding artists recently made an appearance at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s radio station – Miraya FM. Their song “Where is the Promise” was featured, and students and their teachers spoke about the inspiration behind the words.
SOUNDBITE (English) Madiei Daniel Deng, Patron Music Dance and Drama Club:
“We sing and we enact dramas mostly on how children suffer. [For example] there is a song about the suffering of children in all the states. We [have sung] about the suffering of children, about the suffering of soldiers, so that a good-hearted person can understand and will try [their best by all] means to help those groups. [Their] help will change the nation. The messages will be heard in the songs.’
At the time of independence, these students were mere toddlers in a country that seemed to be looking ahead to a future of abundance. Today, as teenagers, they are asking tough questions and expecting nothing less than their leaders to exercise accountability.
SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Aluel, Student:
“There are many orphans suffering, and no one is supporting them. If our leaders will support them then we will have hope, because we shall be happy when orphans are in school with us.”
While in the Radio Miraya studio, each of the students spoke about what they hoped for.
SOUNDBITE (English) Emmanuel Gol Mayang:
“The changes which I want to see in South Sudan are: the government should build enough resources for them for the orphans, children and the soldiers, so that there can be good security. These are the changes we want - good security, good hospitals, good schools, and development of the country.”
Their eloquent song paints an image of a rosy South Sudan and by being members of this youth club they are advocating for the country’s leaders to fix broken systems.
SOUNDBITE (English) Agyen Deng Mayeng:
“The way the children here are suffering is not good. So, I joined the club. If there is a way the leaders could help us so that these orphans can get education, good hospitals and good security.”
As people across this young nation continue to struggle for basic needs like food, shelter and education, there is no time like the present for communities to begin reaping dividends of peace.
SOUNDBITE (English) Irene Lasu, Radio Miraya, Breakfast Show Presenter:
“We got an emotional moment when this teacher was breaking down things for us. We hope that this does not just end up being a song. We hope that this song can reach out to the people concerned, to the leaders concerned, that they need to think about it - so many people have hope in this country.”
For Radio Miraya presenters in the studio there can be no better outcome than these children’s voices are heard by South Sudan’s leaders.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lucy Kiden, Radio Miraya, Breakfast Show:
“We just had to have them at Radio Miraya. We just had to have them here so that everyone in South Sudan is able to experience what these kids are trying to portray. I mean our job is to amplify any message for peace, any call for peace, and together hopefully one day we will achieve and realize that peace.”
Despite delays in implementing key benchmarks, the 2018 peace deal has brought about a fragile stability. Much more needs to be done, though, for durable peace to become a reality.
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