"Junk Food -- Message For Kids" (Arabic)

This Public Service Announcement (PSA) features an overweight teenage boy eating a fast food burger in front of the television set. Facts about obesity are displayed in simple text with the sound of chewing and slurping in the background. The text says, "Children from Ages 5-19 are most affected by Obesity," and "The main reason for childhood obesity is eating while watching television or doing homework." The boy finishes his soft drink and the message appears, "Treat Your Body Right". The PSA was made by Suhaila Al-Salem, a board member, and active leader within the civil society organization, Women Cultural Social Society. She wishes to educate both parents and youth about health complications caused by childhood obesity, a relatively new problem in Kuwait.

In addition to Suhaila's activism, she organizes women's health initiatives through Women Cultural Society, and activities for women to gain business and networking skills to open their own businesses in Kuwait.
She is the primary contact for the Kuwait NGO Film Club that formed after a two-week workshop led by Barefoot Workshops at the Radisson SAS in Kuwait. She plans to continue creating her own PSA's and facilitating monthly meeting for the club. Please contact Suhaila if you would like to join the Kuwait NGO Film Club, or if you would like to broadcast the groups PSA's on regional networks in The Middle East. Email: suhaila_alsalem@yahoo.com

URL: www.wcss.com

Background:

This Public Service Announcement (PSA) was produced locally in Kuwait City, Kuwait as part of a media workshop, entitled "Media, Activism and Democracy," led by Barefoot Workshops in partnership with The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). Thirteen participants from seven organizations, mostly women and youth, learned how to write, shoot, produce and edit, thirty-second noncommercial videos (Public Service Announcements), to raise awareness about social issues. The goal of the workshops was to increase discussion, debate and civic participation in the Middle East.

The PSAs are available in Arabic and English to broadcasters and other organizations that wish to distribute them "rights-free" on television and/or the Internet.

Music and sound design provided by Nabeel Bahy (of Kuwait)

See more PSAs at www.barefootworkshops.org

Contacts: Chandler Griffin & Alison Fast (chandler@barefootworkshops.org)

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Barefoot
• Workshops
• MEPI
• Arabic
• Public
• Service
• Announcement
• PSA
• Kuwait
• Middle
• East
• obesity
• youth
• health
• parents