#makeachildcry

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Choose the number of children you make cry.

10children

£2010 malnutrition kits

180children

£55180 malaria treatments

480children

£100480 measles treatments

Today, a child dies every 7 seconds from lack of care.

The main reason for this tragedy? Extreme poverty.

Michaela is 5 years old. She was born in Grand Anse, one of Haiti's poorest regions. As a victim of the cholera epidemic that has plagued the country since the 2010 earthquake, she suffers from severe dehydration and repeated blackouts. Only the serum treatment that Doctors of the World is providing her with can cure her.

In many countries, among the poorest in the world, millions of children die at birth, or suffer from diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, pneumonia, or diarrhoea. Yet simple treatments, good hygiene, better nutrition and access to quality health services could save their lives.

230 million children live in countries affected by crisis or war.

Children account for nearly 50% of the world's refugees.

To escape the civil war raging in Syria, Moissa, 4 years old, and his parents crossed into Turkey. After an exhausting journey, they boarded a makeshift boat on the Aegean Sea, to the island of Chios in Greece. Deeply shocked, Moissa no longer feeds. Her mother was desperate and turned to the Doctors of the World teams in the detention centre where the family is awaiting its pass for Europe.

In contexts of natural disaster or extreme violence, children are the most vulnerable. Injured, traumatised, sometimes separated from their families, they are particularly exposed to dangers and diseases. Forced to live in appalling sanitary conditions, without access to health facilities, they are in urgent need of care and protection.

27 million children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Europe.

The economic and social crisis makes them even more vulnerable.

For 3 years, Sonia has been living in Germany with her family. When she turned 8, her parents enrolled her in a school in Munich. But to continue her education, she needed to be vaccinated against childhood diseases. Without health insurance and any resources, her family could never take her to consult a GP. At the Doctors of the World clinic, Sonia will finally receive the vaccines that will allow herto return to school.

Europe is the cradle of human rights. Yet equality in terms of health remains a challenge. The European crisis struck the weakest the hardest and this new poverty has serious repercussions for children. Many do not have access to care, including vaccination, or they don't have enough to eat or are inadequately housed. More than ever, a free health care system accessible to everyone in Europe is needed.

Protecting children is a duty.

For 35 years, DOTW has been fighting to protect and care for the most vulnerable. Children are the first victims of poverty, violence or disease. There is an urgent need to take care of them.

Most children cry at the thought of seeing the doctor. With their injections, needles, equipment and medecines, our doctors of the world devote all their energy to supporting and treating every child in need, without any discrimination.

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In the field

In Cotonou, Benin, Doctors of the World supports the Maison du Soleil, a reception centre that treats young adolescents and children.

Because they become mothers while they themselves are only children, or because their families reject them, young girls and their babies find refuge at the Maison du Soleil. There they receive the attention and care they need to grow and to learn to smile again.

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INFANT MORTALITY

POVERTY IN EUROPE

VICTIMS OF CRISES AND CONFLICTS

OPERATION SMILE

Nos actions

FAQs

Why this campaign?

For over 35 years we have been protecting and caring for the most destitute people throughout the world. Children, who are the first victims of poverty, violence or disease, are among the most vulnerable. More than ever, we need the help and generosity of the public to finance our healthcare programmes dedicated to these children. That is why we have decided to devote an international campaign to the cause of children.

Why #makeachildcry?

If there is one thing all children have in common, it is their apprehension when seeing the doctor. It's not so much the doctor who scares them as the fact of being examined with strange instruments. Looking in their ears with an otoscope, injecting a vaccine with a syringe and opening their mouths with a tongue depressor are some of the intrusive actions to which toddlers are sometimes extremely sensitive. Some cry while others have great apprehension but manage to overcome their fears. This reality is something that our doctors, paediatricians and nurses in the field face every day, and they do all they can to win the children's trust during the consultations. However, the fear reflex remains. Nonetheless, the importance of giving them the care that can save lives is never in doubt.

The protection of children is an essential cause. Defended by many NGOs, it is most often represented by the simple fact of their suffering. With #makeachildcry, we are seeking to convey a different message, one which highlights the positive action against this suffering.

This campaign appeals to the generosity of the general public. With your donation you’re allowing a child to see a doctor, at the risk of making him cry. Our goal is to provide access to care to all children without discrimination, wherever they come from and wherever they are.

How was the shooting of the film done?

When it comes to filming children, the process is highly regulated. The presence of the child on the set should not exceed 2 hours and they must be accompanied by their parents. Their compensation was paid into an escrow account released when they reach maturity.

For this campaign, we worked with photographer and director Achim Lippoth, recognised for his expertise in child photography.

The campaign actors are mostly volunteer Doctors of the World doctors or nurses. They knew precisely what actions to perform in order to simulate the act of giving care. The needle for the fake vaccine was obviously filed down to avoid injury.

What did you do to make these children to cry?

We deliberately chose children aged between 2 and 3 years. At that age, crying is still a very common everyday occurrence and the children are able to verbalise their emotions.

Two techniques were used to trigger the crying:

The parents voluntarily distanced themselves from the film set,
The parents took away a toy that the child liked.

Afterwards the child was very quickly reassured and the parents and the caregivers explained the situation to them.

Thanks

We thank all stakeholders who participated in this campaign. Starting with the director Achim Lippoth, who agreed to put his experience at the service of this project. Thanks to Magali Films production, which enabled us to create this with a limited budget. Thanks to the whole DDB Paris team for this beautiful idea and for their professionalism. To our volunteer doctors who generously agreed to appear in the campaign. And finally, thanks to the children and their parents without whom this would not have been possible.

Creation : DDB Paris.

Web creation : Neuvième Page

Video Production : Magali Films & Bundle Productions.

MAKE A CHILD CRY