Edutainment (Entertainment-Education)

The One Love Foundation, established in 2010 in memory of Yeardley Love (a college student killed by her ex-boyfriend), educates young people about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships to prevent dating violence. Using a train-the-trainer model, the foundation has reached 500,000+ participants through film-based workshops like "Escalation." The curriculum identifies "10 Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship" (intensity, manipulation, sabotage, guilting, deflecting responsibility, possessiveness, isolation, belittling, volatility, betrayal) and "10 Signs of a Healthy Relationship" (comfortable pace, trust, respect, fun, healthy conflict, honesty, independence, equality, taking responsibility, kindness). Programs serve 4th grade through college age. Resources include facilitator training, lesson plans, trusted adult guides, and a digital relationship abuse campaign addressing online warning signs.

The HALO Trust conducts comprehensive mine risk education in over 30 countries, reaching over 1 million people annually. In 2022 alone, HALO conducted 71,949 EORE classes educating 1,055,653 adults and children. Programs teach identification of explosives, high-risk locations (former military trenches), warning signs/markings, and reporting procedures. Special attention targets children through puppet shows and card games, as unexploded bombs can resemble toys. In Syria, HALO has safety trained 708,369 people since 2016 using innovative approaches including online campaigns. Evaluation found 92.7% of people near clearance sites reported increased physical security, with 87.8% reporting improved livelihoods.

The Mines Advisory Group implements gender and age-appropriate, context-specific risk education across conflict-affected regions including Cambodia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, South Sudan, and Vietnam. Since 1989, MAG has helped over 20 million people in 70 countries. Community liaison teams assess contamination levels and prioritize areas of greatest need, informing communities about clearance activities and follow-up requirements. Programs use engaging methods like puppet shows, coloring sheets, songs, and dances to teach children to recognize landmines, report dangerous items, and respond in emergencies. The approach emphasizes behavioral change to reduce risk-taking that leads to accidents.

DanChurchAid launched EORE in Ukraine immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, recognizing the country as heavily contaminated with mines and ERW. The "Watch Your Step!" program (June-December 2022) trained Explosive Ordnance identifiers among first responders including firefighters and foresters in collaboration with State Emergency Service Ukraine. Materials include posters, leaflets, animated cartoons, a board game, and online training for teachers. DCA supports community-led initiatives through flexible small grants to local organizations, enabling contextually appropriate responses. The goal is safe return for internally displaced people and community reconstruction.

DCA's "Enabling a Safe Future through EORE in South Sudan" (2025) targets Magwi County, where decades of conflict left extensive land contamination. The $159,486 project expects to reach 23,000+ children and adults with tailored EORE sessions in schools and communities. Key innovations include training 400 Community Focal Points and 600 Peer-Risk Educators to ensure sustainability; 10 drama clubs and 10 EORE wall murals for culturally relevant messaging; radio broadcasts reaching remote areas; and "Sport for Peace" events fostering social cohesion. The project strengthens victim referral pathways and measures behavioral change through baseline/endline surveys.

Soul City is South Africa's pioneering edutainment initiative using prime-time TV and radio dramas to address gender-based violence since the 1990s. The fourth series focused on domestic violence, reaching 86% of audiences via TV, 65% via radio, and 25% via print. Evaluation found: 41% became aware of GBV helpline; 10% increase in disagreement that domestic violence is private; 22% shift in social norm perceptions. The program strongly associated with successful implementation of South Africa's Domestic Violence Act. Soul City is reviving as "Shayi'ndlela" (Turn the Tide) in 2026, funded by UK FCDO, specifically addressing intimate partner violence. The approach has reached 80%+ of South Africa's population including marginalized rural communities, adapting content across all official languages.

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) implements community dialogue and media-based peacebuilding programs across 35+ countries. Their approach uses participatory media production, community radio, and facilitated dialogue to transform conflict, build trust between divided groups, and promote social cohesion in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

BBC Media Action uses media and communication to reduce conflict and build peace in fragile states. Programs include radio dramas addressing ethnic tension, TV debates promoting dialogue, and digital platforms for citizen engagement. Active in countries including Nigeria, Myanmar, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mercy Corps implements youth-focused programs across Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq to build resilience and social cohesion among conflict-affected communities. Uses sports, arts, and dialogue to bring together diverse groups and address drivers of conflict and extremism.

A global movement empowering children aged 8-12 with comprehensive digital citizenship skills through the gamified DQ World platform, teaching eight core competencies including digital identity, cyberbullying management, and critical thinking.

The largest early childhood development initiative in humanitarian history, combining localized Arabic 'Sesame Street' content with direct services including preschool, parenting sessions, and home visits. Features Muppet characters designed to help refugee children process trauma and develop social-emotional skills.

A global program building ocean literacy and behavior change for sustainable ocean stewardship. Includes the Blue Schools Global Network connecting schools worldwide, hands-on cross-subject projects, and the Generation Ocean campaign using transformative storytelling to drive ocean conservation action.

The world's largest peacebuilding organization using media and communications to prevent violent extremism. Since 1982, SFCG has used TV dramas, radio soap operas, and digital campaigns to transform conflict across 30+ countries. Signature programs include Studio Ijambo (Burundi, credited with helping avert genocide through Hutu-Tutsi dialogue) and The Team (soccer drama series promoting peace). Their 'Common Ground Approach' builds bridges across divides through collaborative storytelling and community-led counternarratives to extremism.

A couple communication intervention in Oromia, Ethiopia, developed using a human-centered design framework, demonstrated that encouraging open conversations about pregnancy and childbirth between couples leads to improved maternal and child health outcomes. The intervention utilized audio devices with radio stories modeling healthy, gender-equitable relationships.

B’more for Healthy Babies, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, launched a new video to promote safe sleep practices and reduce infant mortality in Baltimore. The video emphasizes community involvement and delivers key safety messages using the ABCDs of infant safety: Alone, Back, Crib, and Don't Smoke.