DRC / ELECTION PREPS YOUTH

As the elections approach in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, political debates are expected to keep the spotlight on the country's youngest members. New research by the government, UNICEF and other developmental organizations shows that two thirds of children now go to school compared to just half ten years ago. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:08
• Production Date: 8 November 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: U111108e

Description

STORY: DRC / ELECTION PREPS YOUTH
TRT: 02:08
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 11 OCT 2011 – 14 OCT 2011, KINSHASA, MALUKU, NKONKO, MBIMBI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Shotlist

11 OCTOBER 2011, KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

1. Various shots, street of Kinshasa with heavy traffic
2. Med shot, street of Kinshasa with heavy traffic
3. Med shot, banner reading “Power to the Congolese people, power to the base, never betray Congo, liberty march with Mr Laurent Desire Kabila”
4. Close up, portrayal of Laurent Desire Kabila on banner
5. Med shot, car driving in front of the Union for the Congolese Nation party
6. Med shot, crowd of people walking
7. Med shot, interior of a car driving with Congolese flag in the foreground
8. Med shot, children playing football

14 OCTOBER 2011, MALUKU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

9. Wide shot, children carrying tanks of water on their heads
10. Close up, Tilt up, children gathering water from source
11. Close up, baby girl lying on bed
12. Med shot, baby girl

12 OCTOBER 2011, NKONKO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

13. SOUNDBITE (French) Celestin Kabamba Kamat, Assistant of the Minister of Social Affairs in Kinshasa:
“The rights of Children are a problem in our country, yet despite some shortcomings of the Government, we manage to partner with International organizations and NGOs to try and give children what they need.”

11 OCTOBER 2011, KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

14. Wide shot, children in classroom, studying
15. Close up, children studying in classroom

13 OCTOBER 2011, MBIMBI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

16. Med shot, children coming back from school wearing school uniforms

13 OCTOBER 2011, KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

17. SOUNDBITE (French) Jonas Kambiena, Founder of the “Forum for Democracy and Good Governance” (FDBG):
“The government has to put a lot of efforts to create an educational environment for children that will help to build a new Congo. We’ll achieve this new Congo only if we center our preoccupations on the education of Congolese children.”

13 OCTOBER 2011, KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

18. Wide shot, Pan right, crowd of people walking in front of the Martyrs stadium
19. Med shot, children cleaning pans and kitchen utensils nearby the river

14 OCTOBER 2011, MALUKU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

20. Med shot, people standing by roadside
21. SOUNDBITE (French), Steven Lauwerier, UNICEF Deputy Representative in DR Congo:
“Whoever the winner of the coming elections will be, UNICEF wants him to puts his heart into Children’s Rights. And by that I mean the right to education, health, and protection, so that we can hope that the progress we have seen in this country the last few years are confirmed.”

13 OCTOBER 2011, MALUKU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

22. Wide shot, crowd of people walking out of the Martyrs stadium
23. Wide shot, crowd of people walking
24. Close up, crowd of people walking and talking
25. Med shot, woman walking and holding hands with a little girl
26. Med shot, boys playing marble on the dirt

Storyline

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is at a political crossroads.

More than a decade after the assassination of President Laurent Kabila, 11 candidates are now in the race for the country’s top job.

But the question is, will this leader have what it takes to transform a country, which despite its vast mineral wealth, has the worst human development index in the world?

In the last decade, little progress has been made in providing DRC’s 66 million citizens, more than half of whom are under the age of 18, with safe drinking water.

And while the under-five mortality rate has declined, it still remains one of the highest in the world.

SOUNDBITE (French) Celestin Kabamba Kamat, Assistant of the Minister of Social Affairs in Kinshasa:
“The rights of Children are a problem in our country, yet despite some shortcomings of the Government, we manage to partner with International organizations and NGOs to try and give children what they need.”

But the education system has seen many achievements.

New research by the government, UNICEF and other developmental organizations shows that two thirds of children now go to school, compared to just half, ten years ago.

SOUNDBITE (French) Jonas Kambiena, Founder of the “Forum for Democracy and Good Governance” (FDBG):
“The government has to put a lot of efforts to create an educational environment for children that will help to build a new Congo. We’ll achieve this new Congo only if we center our preoccupations on the education of Congolese children.”

DRC’s new leader will face many political and socio-economic quagmires and the situation facing the youth will be hard to ignore

SOUNDBITE (French) Steven Lauwerier, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Democratic Republic of the Congo:
“Whoever the winner of the coming elections will be, UNICEF wants him to puts his heart into Children’s Rights. And by that I mean the right to education, health, and protection, so that we can hope that the progress we have seen in this country the last few years are confirmed.”

As election fever heats up in the DRC, it’s hoped that the political debates will keep the spotlight on the country’s youngest members