11 Comments

is 'Warning CCTV in operation' enough to keep thieves at bay....?
Satvir
2009-12-15 16:11:17

Possibly the perfect way to engage the passer-by and really hit home that the kids in these ads are real people that you can do something to help them. I can imagine that seeing the child's 'reaction' to you placing a coin in the tin must be quite powerful.
Martin Boath
2009-12-15 17:10:19

Love it - although quite eerie
I was wondering if the caption at the top gave them permission to use footage of people using it or not.

I think i would have liked the headline to be "Your change could change HER life" making it more personal since the video is attempting to hit you right in the heart.
Nathan Sarlow
2009-12-15 17:11:08

I find it quite disturbing in terms of the interaction: a kind of child-beggar slot machine? Maybe instead of a thank-you smile the user feedback could have shown an improvement in the child's life.
Katrin Middel
2009-12-16 11:18:56

I agree with Katrin... the technological implementation is interesting but is emulating grief is such a fashion healthy? I'm not sure myself. It feels rather like a gimmick.
dorfsman
2009-12-16 12:46:20

Does this create an emotional connection, or an emotional disconnection?. An image of a vulnerable person performs a little technical gimmick when prompted by a coin. Like a mechanical curio. A dancing monkey. I can't help thinking this could be misunderstood. It almost feels like an exploitation scenario.
tim
2009-12-16 15:54:44

Considering you have a (relatively) captive audience at a bus stop i think it's brilliant but as Katrin said, acknowledgment that your donation has made a difference would be even better.
Brendan
2009-12-17 23:58:22

Although a brilliant idea, I really dislike sensationalised charity ads; I actually find them quite distasteful. Yes its real, and thats what it's like. But Sex is real, and dirty, but you can't have it on billboards, so I don't think that alone is justification for this kind of imagery. As it happens I'm not a fan of censorship, so ultimately it's not that I don't think this should be allowed, just that I'm surprised it is, and personally, I don't find them effective, just distasteful.

If I wish to give to charity I do, if a charity tries to guilt me into giving them my money it turns me right off. If anything I'd like to see the end result of the charity, the positive things it does, and where the money we give goes; happy children able to live fulfilling lives due to mere pennies we donate; you know, something positive that makes you feel like a good person, not something so negative it sticks with you for the rest of the day. I feel there's a sense of irony that to get money for abused children they feel the need to visually abuse us.

@tim - very good point and an interesting conclusion.
n
2009-12-18 12:37:11

Whilst this may be engaging to the public I feel the message is dangerous.

Money is donated and a smile is given nothing further occurs, there is no illustrated progression to this child's condition or well being highlighting. What I think is the biggest problem with charities in general is that those who donate do not more often than not see the changes that are being caused as a direct result of their act of kindness.

Perhaps what would have been more effective would have been a progressional piece that focused on the development of the situation as money was donated? Almost as if those who used this bus stop were adopting into their lives a child that they could see develop and grow and learn to care what happens to them.
Luke Gallacher
2009-12-18 18:59:56

I don't think people should kid themselves by thinking that a quarter will turn this kid's life around. If i put in my 25c and all of a sudden she's got a law degree isn't that ridiculous?
Realistically, a smile is about the right reaction for a miniscule donation.
Donovan
2010-04-13 21:00:08

i think that the advert is strong and quite emotinal , barnardos does a lot of these poster and they all kinda make you cry but i wonder when some youth comes along and brakes to money pot lol
daniel
2011-02-10 18:31:29

Tell us what you think

Your comment: What happens with my feedback?

What happens with my feedback?

We no longer require you to register and have a password in order to comment, simply fill in the form below. All comments are moderated so you may experience a short delay before your comment appears. CR encourages comments to be short and to the point. As a general rule, they should not run longer than the original post. Comments should show a courteous regard for the presence of other voices in the discussion. We reserve the right to edit or delete comments that do not adhere to this standard.

Name: (required)

Title:

e-Mail: (required)

URL