“Happy Family”, a child-friendly animation series, has won the National Round competition for Cambodia for two Asian Academy Creative Awards for the Best Preschool Programme and the Best Animated Programme last week. The series was developed under USAID Breakthrough ACTION by Save the Children, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and UNICEF, to share COVID-19 prevention messages with young children and their caregivers.

 

“On behalf of the Asian Academy Creative Awards, I would like to congratulate you on winning the National Round of the competition. This means you have been judged the best in your country” said the email from Fiona McKay, the CEO of the Asian Academic Creative Awards. 

 

Many competitors from diverse Asian countries participated in the awards and more than 300 judges and juries viewed and scored all of the regional winners. 

 

The child-friendly animation series provides children and caretakers with skills to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus, stop it from spreading, and cope with the pandemic’s aftermath. 

 

The edutainment series has a target audience of 5 to 10-year-olds, and revolves around a colourful family of rabbits. The storyline and messaging spans handwashing, social distancing, learning from home, mental and physical well-being, and stigma and discrimination. Each episode is unique and designed to be appealing to parents and other caregivers who will also learn, alongside their children, how to apply prevention techniques for COVID-19. The key messages are communicated through situations and explanations that are child friendly, fun and engaging. This increases the chance that children can learn and put their new skills into practice

 

“Save the Children would like to thank the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and UNICEF for their support and collaboration, making this great achievement possible together,” said Mrs. Elizabeth Pearce, Country Director, Save the Children, Cambodia office. “We also thank those children and youth who participated by providing their feedback and comments before we finalised the videos.” 

 

The ultimate winner in each category will receive the prestigious golden “Goddess of Creativity”, a statuette designed and produced by the company responsible for awards such as the Emmy and Golden Globes. The final virtual award ceremony and gala event will be in December. 

 

For media inquiries, please contact: 

 

1. Ms. Say Sokpheap, Communications Manager, Save the Children via her email: sokpheap.say@savethechildren.org or her phone: 012 682 770 

2. Mr. Meas Bunly, Communications Specialist, UNICEF Cambodia via his email: bmeas@unicef.org or his phone: 012 733 909