Rural Youth Success Stories

: This part can be read by a male or female actor, around 20 years old.

FADE IN THEME MUSIC SOFTLY.

: Welcome to our series on “Rural Youth Success Stories.” In these programs, we hear the stories of young people who have chosen to stay in their villages, while friends and family leave to find jobs in the city.

In this episode, Carla/Carlos tells you how s/he learned to make candles and start a business with some friends.

THEME MUSIC RISES AND THEN FADES OUT.

: Hello and good morning [evening or afternoon], my name is Carlos. In my small village, it is difficult for young people to find jobs. Many of my friends have left to look for work in larger cities.

I did not want to leave my home. So I got together with some friends and we asked ourselves if there was something that people in our community need that we could make and sell.

I suggested candles. Many parts of our region have no power supply. Even in the towns, electricity is not reliable. Since the candles in my country are imported and very expensive, this is what we decided to do.

It was not easy. My friends and I did not live very close to each other, we had no regular jobs, and no money. At first, banks did not want to lend us money because of our age, and because we had no way of guaranteeing we would be able to repay them.

We worked hard, though. We wrote away to an agency that sent us information about candle-making. We talked to people we thought might buy our candles. Finally, we got a small loan.

(cont): Suppliers of the string and wax we needed to make the candles even sent us free samples to help get us started!

After the first year, we needed to hire more people to help us. We were also able to pay ourselves wages. We even sent some candles to other regions of the country!

One of my friends left and moved to the city, but I am proud of what I have achieved for my village. I work for myself, in the same community I grew up in. I have many friends in the area, and I have been able to provide employment for them too. Most importantly, I have helped to show my younger brothers and sisters that there is still opportunity here at home.

FADE UP THEME MUSIC, PLAY SOFTLY UNDER VOICE OF PROGRAM HOST.

Program host: Join us again for another episode of “Rural Youth Success Stories.” This show airs ____________ (weekday and time).

FADE OUT THEME MUSIC.

– END –

---

: The words (in brackets) after the character names are directions on how the lines can be spoken. They are not meant to be read aloud.

: A girl about 20 years old

: Becca’s younger sister, 15 years old

FADE IN THEME MUSIC SOFTLY.

: Welcome to our series on “Rural Youth Success Stories.” In these programs, we hear the stories of young people who have chosen to stay in their villages, while friends and family leave to find jobs in the city.

In this episode, Becca and her younger sister, Ona, discuss their futures in their village. Right now, they are walking home from the market.

THEME MUSIC RISES AND THEN FADES OUT.

SOUND EFFECTS (“Outdoor” sound effects might play under this dialogue.).

: You are awfully quiet today, Ona.

: Perhaps.

: Is there something wrong?

: (quietly) No.

: I bet it’s a boy! Is it Amil?

: I have not heard from him since he left for the city, Becca. He promised me he would write. I was going to follow him and we were going to start a family!

: But he never wrote.

: No. (pause) I have been thinking about going anyway.

: To the city?

: Yes. And I met a man this morning. He told me there are many jobs for young girls in the city. He said I would have money and a house. I do not have that here.

[silence]

: Now you are the quiet one.

: I have been to the city.

: I know.

: But I came back here.

: I know that, too!

: The city is not better or worse than the country, but it is different. You do not want the jobs that man spoke of. You do not want to return home, like me, sick and poor and without friends. There are many, many young people, just like you, going to the city all the time, looking for money and a house.

: But I am different.

: Maybe. Maybe not. I am smart, and I am pretty, and I work hard. I can do lots of things. But I had no more choice in the city than I do here.

: What choices are here? Only whether or not to leave!

: So you think.

: We cannot farm, like our parents did, because there is no land left.

: But there is much we can do. You are not the only one who talks with people in the marketplace, sister! I have a friend who works for an organization that buys coffee at a fair price.

: But we have no coffee!

: We can grow some on the shady slopes behind the house. There are already several people in the area forming a cooperative, and my friend has been growing coffee in his uncle’s forest for 2 years now.

: But where will we get the money?

: We can approach the cooperative for a small loan if we need one.

: This sounds too easy.

: It is not easy. It’s hard work, and it might be a while before we earn some money. But it’s more than I had in the city.

[silence]

: (quietly) And what about Amil?

: You are young, Ona. Just 15 years old. You should stay in school — it is very important for you to have an education. Then you will have even more choices.

[silence]

: Tell me more.

: Well, we can go to my friend’s place right now and…

VOICES FADE AWAY AS THEME MUSIC FADES UP AND PLAYS SOFTLY UNDER PROGRAM HOST.

: Join us again for another episode of “Rural Youth Success Stories.” This show airs ____________ [weekday and time].

FADE OUT THEME MUSIC.

– END –