THE primary concern among parents for their kids is safety. From the time they are born, we worry about providing them the safest environment possible—from the best way to sterilize feeding bottles, to safe hygiene and safe-proofing our home, we move to find ways to protect our kids as they go out to their external environment.
It is great to know that Prudence Foundation in partnership with the Cartoon Network, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) teamed up, not only to educate parents but also to teach kids on safety information in a fun and innovative way. Last July 5, the foundation officially launched Safe Steps Kids at Manila Ocean Park. The campaign is a new safety awareness program, which aims to equip millions of children across the country with actionable information designed to save lives in the event of first-aid emergencies, disaster situations or road-safety issues.
Five years ago, boxing champ Manny Pacquiao helped launch the successful, more adult-focused Safe Steps program which sought to enhance disaster preparedness and awareness by providing vital survival tips in response to natural disasters. Now, Prudence Foundation’s Safe Steps program has expanded to reach a younger generation with the help of Cartoon Network’s well-loved cartoon characters. Safe Steps Kids includes a series of kid-centric, practical and easy-to-understand tips through a medium they know and love.
Marc Fancy, executive director of Prudence Foundation, said, “The Philippines is one of the countries in Asia most prone to natural disasters, such as floods, fires, earthquakes and typhoons.
What this program aims to achieve is to equip the most vulnerable group of our community with information on how to stay safe and react to emergencies, thus helping build a more resilient community and future generation.”
The initiative comprises a series of 12 50-second public service announcements. Each video features a set of characters from a well-known Cartoon Network series who will anchor the storytelling process to raise awareness and provide educational information. The messages addressing three key life-threating issues are approved by IFRC. The first category of videos to launch focuses on Disasters, featuring the irrepressible superhero trio, the Powerpuff Girls. Later in the year, the First Aid episodes will be rolled out, featuring We Bare Bears, followed by videos on Road Safety featuring characters from The Amazing World of Gumball.
“Safe Step Kids program is a great opportunity to build a culture of safety in the Philippines, which we carry out through school safety or humanitarian education on disaster risk reduction and health promotion. This initiative does not only educate but also enables children to be proactive when it comes to saving lives at an early age,” said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon.
“For the Department of Education, finding the right partners, with the same dedication to learners, and as committed to Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones’s vision of providing Quality, Accessible, Relevant and Liberating Basic Education for all is always key. Being able to effectively reach our learners, and in a format and manner they enjoy, is a welcome bonus,” added Undersecretary Alain del Bustamante Pascua.
The videos will be hosted on the Safe Steps Kids web site (www.safestepskids.com) and complement a series of collaterals that will be distributed to schools and communities across the country. Leslie Lee, vice president of Cartoon Network in Asia Pacific, added: “This unique partnership uses characters from shows that are really well-loved in the Philippines. As the leading kids’ channel in the Philippines, Cartoon Network can create content that helps make this important message resonate with kids and their parents. Once again, the day is saved thanks to the Powerpuff Girls.”
These videos will air on Cartoon Network on Cignal Digital TV Channel 220 (HD), Sky Direct Channel 15 (HD), SKYcable Channel 178 (HD), and Destiny Cable Channel 178 (HD Digital), and on Cartoon Network’s social and online video platforms, web sites and apps, including Cartoon Network
Watch and Play.