Large poster action in Ethiopia

The idea and intention

The idea to design educational poster about Podokoniose for schools in Ethiopia, came from Christel Ahrens (our project co-ordinator in Ethiopia) At the beginning 2012. Martin Burkert (Student from Berlin) And I (Marlene Thielecke, Club member) were in the first days of our 3 week stay in Ethiopia with her to visit, When she told us about it.

Christel imagined posters with vivid images, the disease and its origin should explain the simple, without however with photos of completely destroyed feet to deter and the children from the head.

Marlene Thielecke when visiting a Podo station

The children are to understand by the poster, that Podokoniose is a bad disease, by the permanent entry of constituents of Red Earth in the feet is achieved and may be prevented by wearing closed shoes. It was the intention of christel, To raise awareness among children, that and with whatever means they can protect.

Why you tell children about Podo, you are affected by the disease, but not so much? It is very important, already as early as possible to start with prevention and wearing shoes or the daily, thorough washing of the feet as something normal and natural to establish, so that it does not even come to the symptoms of Podokoniose.

Martin and I decided us to assume the poster idea and the time, We spent that on at the Podo Centre Tschallia, to use. We wanted to take many pictures and continue to work on the concept.

The photo- Shooting

There was a group of 10 Boys and girls between 9 and 12 Years, the desire had to join the photo action. They posed for us and played with wonderfully!

On one of our days in Tschallia we visited the elementary school of the town off. We told the school principal about our projects, focused use of posters illuminating and thus indirectly preemptively against Podokoniose- go. We asked him, whether he is agree, If we would ask a few students after school, whether it is a photo- Model could make available.

For all the photos, We made the, have we tried to photograph our photo actors, that they are not, or are difficult to recognize and identify. The pictures focus on their feet and activities, as the washing of feet and hands, Soccer games etc.

Final version - an example

One of our 3 Poster shows a circle of feet, all wear closed-toe shoes. The feet of Martin and me are even part of the circle. In the middle of the shoe district is translated into German:

Click on the image for a larger view

”Let us wear shoes to our culture make”

The shape of the circle symbolizes, that there is a closed, Joint and round thing is, in which everyone participates, because wearing shoes is useful and beneficial. Is listed below the photos, What shoes to wear for benefits brings:

1. To protect the feet from wounds.
2. To protect yourself from various worms.
3. To protect your feet from swelling.
4. To have beautiful feet.

A few weeks ago has Tsegaye, a teacher from Gimbi, the for the work of Podo e.V. uses, to distribute the posters in schools. We will be reporting from his experiences at this school intervention soon.