The infosaid project -funded by Internews and BBC Media Action- had as a goal improving the quality of humanitarian assistance through information exchange between crisis-affected populations and aid agencies.
The project is over now, but a number of resources are still available on their site at http://www.infoasaid.org/ .
Here is one of the videos they used in their campaign.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and complete the blanks in the transcript with the missing words. The activity is suitable for intermediate students, although strong Básico 2 students can give it a try or enjoy it while listening and reading at the same time.
Communication. It's talking to a neighbour. It's e-mailing friends. It's (1) ... ... with the news. We all depend on giving and receiving information to share our experiences and feelings, (2) ... our lives, and join us to our communities. In the (3) ... of a crisis, whether it's natural or man-made, the communication networks that support every community can shatter along with (4) ... and lives. And when all we rely on is turned (5) ... ... , we need information more than ever. It's as crucial as food, water, (6) ... and medicine.
Where can we go for help, or danger should we be (7) ... of? How can we find our missing families and friends? And who will listen to our (8) ... , and give us the advice we need? Insufficient or even conflicting information can cause confusion and worsen the feeling of (9) ... . And if we don't know and trust the sources, even the most vital messages can miss their mark.
Lives can be saved with accurate, timely, and well-(10) ... information. When our voices are heard and we know what to expect, we can start to make our own decisions and get back in control of our lives. And once we can rebuild our familiar communication networks, and then reconnect with the (11) ... ... , the process of recovery can really accelerate.
The right information, at the right time through the right channels, can save families, (12) ... , and lives. It can give people back their futures. Communication is aid.
Key:
1 catching up 2 stir 3 eye 4 resources 5 upside down 6 shelter 7 aware 8 concerns 9 isolation 10 targeted 11 wider world 12 livelihoods
