A new ad for UNICEF Georgia highlighting the unfair treatment of street children is gaining attention for it’s powerful and heartbreaking message.
The ad was developed by Switch Communications on behalf of UNICEF’s international #FightUnfair campaign. The campaign aims to end child poverty and alleviate child neglect.
The UNICEF website states:
“Investing in the poorest children not only improves their lives, but also their children’s lives – breaking the vicious cycle of poverty.”
In a new social experiment, Switch Communications dressed a child actor in clean fresh clothes and observed reactions when she seemed alone and lost on the street. As expected, strangers were eager to help the child and rushed to her aid, trying to locate officials and help.
The agency then dressed the child in rags and watch on helpless as people ignored her, asked for her to be removed from a café and treated her with disgust. The impact was so harsh that the child actor ran from the café crying into the arms of her waiting mother.
“Every child has the right to a fair chance in life. But around the world, millions are being left behind – disadvantaged, endangered and deprived of everything they need to thrive” – UNICEF
The campaign urges people to take actions to spread awareness and hold governments accountable for ensuring a better future for every child.
Twitter users have been moved by the new campaign.
@UNICEF every child deserves the best memory of their childhood and a better world!! Let’s change ourselfs firts!!
— Juan José Vargas (@JuanJoVargas13) June 28, 2016
@UNICEF it’s shocking how messed up our world is ?
— A (@goonerette9) June 28, 2016
@UNICEF True story. Sad story.
— Gràcies Xavi (@FurtiveYuvraj) June 28, 2016
@UNICEF I have a little daughter it makes me cry.
— ابو فاطيمة (@YBhai) June 28, 2016