[...] [Film leader] [Tone] [Film leader] [Music] [Family Planning Associationof Rhodesia presents] [Children of the new Africa] [...] [Narrator:] All industrialtowns in Rhodesia are very much the same. The railway andthe factories all form part of a similar pattern. So do the townshipswhere the workers live. All townships have a school. And this is thestory of two girls who grow up togetherin the same township and attend the same school. [Music continues] Mary and Janet areeight-years old. They are both good pupils andhave a lively intelligence. They both plan to beteachers when they grow up. Mary comes from a small family. She has only two brothers. Her parents decided to plantheir family in accordance with their income. In this way, they are ableto devote sufficient time and money to eachof their children. Janet is one of nine children. Her parents did not thinkabout planning their family, and we shall see how thisaffected Janet's future. The fathers of Mary and Janetwork at the same factory, earn the same money, andlive in the same township. [...] Every evening,Mary's father, Amos, comes straight home from work. He's very proud ofhis home and family, and Mary always greets him. [...] Today, Amos has visitors. His elder brotherSylvester has come to town from his village with his wife. Amos greets them andthen turns his attention to his two sons, who arebusy with their homework. Amos takes greatinterest in his children. So too, does his wife, Esnath. Since they haveonly a small family, they are able to takean individual interest in each of their children. [Music] Mary and her mothergo to the kitchen to prepare the evening meal. And Amos and his brother settledown for a talk together. Sylvester does notcome to town often, and there is a lotof news to exchange. Sylvester is very impressedwith his brother's nice home, and he also remarks how wellthe children are looking. When he first heard that Amoswas going to plan his family, he was not pleased, as itwas not the old custom. But now, he can seehow well it has worked. [Music] Amos says that itwas all very easy. The family planning clinicgave Esnath all the help and advice that she needed. And now, he's able to managehis home well on his wages and gave his childrenall that they need. Sylvester agreesthat family planning is a very good thingnowadays, how the way of life has changed since he was young. [Music] Esnath and Mary bring in thefood, and Amos and his visitors sit down to aheart-nourishing evening meal. The children are alsogiven the same food while they sit at atable of their own. Esnath knows thevalue of good food, and every evening sheprepares a hot meal of meat and vegetables. This way, everyone getsthe nourishment they need. There is tea for the women,a glass of beer for the men, and each of the children hasa glass of fresh, creamy milk with their meal. [Music] At Janet's house, however,it is a very different story. Being such a largefamily, the mother does not like the childrento be inside the house. And so they are always madeto stay outside or run wild in the streets. Janet tries hard to keepup with her homework, but she always has the youngestchild to look after as well. So it is very difficult for her. The elder brothersand sister often get tired of waitingaround in the yard, and then they go offand run in the streets. Janet's mother, Tendai, isalways tired and irritable. Having such a largefamily is very tiring, and her husband, Lemek,is often late home. She knows the childrenmust have something to eat, and she calls Janet tohelp her prepare something. The other children are toldto stay outside and wait for their food. [Music] What a poor evening mealit is for growing children, just plain slices of breadand black tea with sugar. There is no nourishment atall in this kind of food. It will not help the childrento grow strong and healthy. [Music] Janet's father, Lemek,finally returns. He has been at thebeer hall with friends, and immediately hedemands his evening meal. Tendai tells him thatthere is no money left in the housekeeping, sothere'll be only bread to eat. Lemek is veryannoyed and asks what happens to all themoney she has for food. Tendai says thatwith all the children they have, the money hegives her is not enough. We cannot afford to keepsuch a large family. The parents then start a longargument about all the children and how difficult it isto bring them up properly. Meanwhile, the children are justoutside, eating their bread. And poor Janet, still tryingto complete her homework, can overhear her parentsarguing and feels very sad. [Music] [Music ends, fade to black] [10 Years Later] [Music] 10 years have passed, and Maryhas completed her schooling. She's buying new clothes,for she's going away to teacher training college. Outside the stores, she meetsher old friend, Janet, who she has not seen for some time. She tells Janet her good news. Janet suggests they go toa cafe for a cool drink, as she is waiting for herboyfriend to meet her. [Music] The two girls havea lot to talk about. Mary is excited about goingto teacher training college and tells Janet all about it. [Music] Janet is very pleasedfor her friend and says that although she wona place at a secondary school, she was unable tocontinue schooling, as there was not enough moneyto spare in her large family. She had to leaveschool three years ago. She says how differenttheir two families are. Although their fathersearned the same money, because her family was so large,there was never enough money. And she was unable tofinish her schooling. Her home life was neverhappy, as her parents didn't have time for the childrenand they were left to run wild in the streets. The one thing that Janet ishappy about is her boyfriend. And as soon as hegets a good job, they are going to get married. And she'll be able toget away from home. She says they'll belike Mary's parents and only have a small family. That way, they'll be able togive their children the best. Mary's sympatheticabout Janet's problems and assures her thatthings will get better. But she also warns herabout being too hasty regarding marriage. Janet's boyfriendeventually turns up and tells Janet to hurry, as hisfriends are waiting in a taxi. He promises her a good time withthe party they are going to. Janet is excited atthe thought of a party and leaves immediately. [Music] [Mary watches Janet andboyfriend get into a taxi] [Janet waves to Mary] Mary is worried aboutthe kind of life her friend Janet is leading. [Music ends, fade to black] [1 Year Later] [Music] Another year haspassed, and Mary is home on holiday from college. Her mother is verypleased to see her again. Mary's mother says thather old school friend Janet is in trouble. She has had a baby, andher boyfriend left her. She's in disgrace at home,but is still living there, as she has nowhere else to go. Mary says she's veryupset to hear this news, and she must go and see herfriend as soon as possible. She remembers she wasworried about Janet the last time they met. She knew that Janetwas not happy at home and was looking fora way to escape. [Music] Janet's mother is notin a very good mood. She says that Janet hasbrought disgrace on the family, and she wants nothingto do with her daughter. If Mary wants to see her,she will find her inside with her baby. It is a sad reunionfor the two friends. Janet says her boyfriendhad promised to marry her. But as soon as he knewshe was in trouble, he ran away andleft her on her own. She knew she wasdoing wrong, but she was so unhappy at home shewanted to get away and start a new life of her own. How differently these girls'lives have turned out. Mary's on the firststep of her career. And Janet is anunmarried mother. If Janet's parents hadplanned their family and spent more love andcare on their children, this would never have happened. We must think of the futureand our children's future in particular. A planned family is notonly good for the parents. In the end, ithelps the children, who are given all the careand attention and education which they need to maketheir way in the world. [Music] [Eagle Film Productions Salisbury] [...] [Tail leader]