The Three Amigos Campaign
'The Three Amigos was a series of 20 public service announcements (PSAs) which used three animated condoms with the aim of promoting safe sex as a form of protection from contacting the HIV/AIDS virus.
First shown at Bangkok's XV International AIDS Conference in 2004, the series was officially launched in 2005 internationally, in six different languages. By 2012, the PSA had been broadcast or used by non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, hospitals and other such groups in 150 countries and 45 languages.
The series was co-created by Chocolate Moose Media's Firdaus Kharas and South African writer Brent Quinn. Each episode approached the subject with humor and was shown in 15-, 20-, 30- and 60-second animated spots. The hand-drawn animation series contained 15,000 drawings and was produced completely by volunteers in four countries.
The Three Amigos campaign won a Peabody Award in 2006,[1] as well as 29 other international awards, and has been the subject of numerous articles[2] and academic writings.[3] Distribution to all users throughout the world is free.
The campaign coincided with a significant decrease in new AIDS cases, according to UNAIDS statistics.[4] Part of the result has come through staunch public support by people like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.[5]
References
- 66th Annual Peabody Awards, May 2007.
- "Pitching Rubbers". The New Yorker. May 24, 2004.
- von Flotow, Luise (2005). "The (Globalized) Three Amigos". TTR: Traduction, Terminologie, Rédaction. 18 (2): 193–207. doi:10.7202/015770ar.
- "AIDS Epidemic Update 2009" (PDF). UNAIDS. pp. 11 ff. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- Tutu, Desmond. "Letter of Support" (PDF). May 11, 2012.