Children of Tsunami is an Asia Pacific media project that tracks how families affected by the Asian Tsunami are rebuilding their lives, livelihoods and homes. From February to December 2005, we will make monthly visits to two chosen families each in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- countries hardest hit by the tsunami -- and film their current progress (or the lack of it).
These families - statistically average for their localities - have all been affected by the tsunami in one or several ways: loss of loved ones, loss of livelihood, destruction of homes and/or schools, and property damage.
Our main focus will be on eight children, who will guide us month after month. But we will also cover their extended families and communities. (While some participating children have tragically lost one or both parents, this is not a project about tsunami orphans.) Using their specific personal experiences, we will look at how - and whether - recovery
support is reaching affected people across Asia.
Children of Tsunami is journalism with empathy, and an attempt to go beyond the headlines, facts and figures. It invokes the Gandhian pinciple of finding out how the last man, woman and child are affected. It seeks to amplify the voices of affected families, with minimal narration and editorializing on the part of story tellers.
Based on our monthly filming and journalistic investigations, we will produce television, video and web stories for a global audience. This content is available free to all TV broadcasters, as well as to any civil society, educational or activist organisation.
The project, which started on 26 January 2005 - a month after the disaster - was launched to the public at the Asia Media Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 10 May 2005 in the presence of over 300 media managers and CEOs from more than 60 countries. See TVEAP news story at: http://www.tveap.org/news/0505cot.htm
Who is involved?
Children of Tsunami is a project of TVE Asia Pacific (TVEAP), a non-profit regional media organisation that uses television, video and web to promote sustainable development and social justice. Registered and based in Sri Lanka, TVEAP is engaged in audio visual and online media projects across East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and South Pacific. For more information, see: www.tveap.org
For Children of Tsunami, TVEAP has commissioned four teams of accomplished TV journalists and film-makers -- all locally based and sharing a deep interest in telling authentic local stories to the Global Village. These teams are led by:
- Satya Sivaraman (India);
- Joe Yaggi (Indonesia);
- Suren de Silva (Sri Lanka); and
- Pipope Panitchpakdi (Thailand).
They are working closely with TVE Asia Pacific's regional production team that includes Bruce Moir, Supervising Producer, a senior film and television professional from Australia, and Manori Wijesekera, production manager. Nalaka Gunawardene, originator of Children of Tsunami, serves as Executive Producer and Editor-in-Chief.
TVEAP is collaborating with local, national, regional and global NGOs, charities and other organisations, whose information and analysis are linked to the dedicated website at: www.childrenoftsunami.info.
How to access Children of Tsunami products
There will be 8 Monthly Video Reports (5 mins x 8) every month (Feb to Dec 2005), produced to international broadcast standard, providing an update on each child/family. These can be delivered monthly to interested broadcasters on Betacam SP, DVCam or MiniDV, without a license fee or copyright restrictions. For broadcast terms and conditions, contact:
sales@tveap.org
For educational and civil society use, copies are available on video tape and DVD. Our website also streams and archives monthly video reports, along with more information, analysis, photographs and links. The website also provides options of how individuals and organisations can become a 'Friend of Children of Tsunami'.
This is an open invitation from TVE Asia Pacific to be a part of this continuing journey. Read the full invitation at:
http://www.tveap.org/news/0505join.htm
NOTE:
The eight families are participating in this project with prior informed consent, and with no financial or material benefits for themselves. This media project does not seek to raise money or donations for any specific individuals or families; any offers of support will be channelled to local NGOs/charities located close to the participating families.
For more information, please contact:
Nalaka Gunawardene
Director - TVE Asia Pacific
212/12, Nawala Road, Nawala, Sri Lanka.
Phone: + 94 11 4412 195; Fax: + 94 11 4403 443;
Email:
contact@tveap.org
www.tveap.org
www.childrenoftsunami.info
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