Making Alan Kurdi the voice of every refugee around the world.

Role Concept & Copywriting
Client UNHCR
Project #Voice4Alan
Agency Y&R, Dubai
Year 2017
Achievements Lynx Awards
Dubai, 2018
Shortlist: PR

UNHCR Special Recognition
2017
Campaign Effectiveness
 
 
 

On September 2, 2015, a single image broke hearts around the world. The image was of an infant- Alan Kurdi. His lifeless body, washed up on a beach, sparked global outrage.

 

On September 2, 2017, the second anniversary of his death, we brought Alan back to make him the voice of every refugee around the world. We enabled browsers to take over the word 'refugee' and replace it with Alan's name.

His name populated every website, search engine, news portal and online social network; rewriting news headlines, articles, and blogs around the world. Wherever you saw the word refugee, you would also see Alan. The world became his voice. And he became the face of every forgotten and faceless refugee in the world.