World Vision Canada Celebrates the Burp

For many people burps are gross, but not for kids. And not forWorld Vision Canada where a burp is the sound of a successful food delivery and one less child going hungry.

More than 45 million people are experiencing food insecurity, just shy of starvation. In partnership with the UN World Food Programme, World Vision Canada has been making a palpable difference in its efforts to eradicate childhood hunger, feeding 2.8 million people every year. Due to its efforts, a growing number of kids now know the joy of letting loose a satisfied post-meal burp.

That is the creative inspiration for “Burp,” a wholly different and more human awareness and fundraising effort for the global relief, development and advocacy organization, created by Toronto agency Broken Heart Love Affair (BHLA).

“Burp” is an attempt to differentiate World Vision Canada from its counterparts during a busy time of year for charities. Instead of taking the sombre approach to hunger that we’ve all become so used to in charity advertising, “Burp” adopts a playful tone to show that when kids get the food they need, they can be kids again.

The spot opens on two children sitting together on a bed and finishing a bowl of food, when one lets out a contented belch. A symphony of burping ensues with a series of shots of empty plates and children all letting out a burp—to the delight of their peers, and the chagrin of parents and teachers. The spot ends with the tagline, “Feed a child, feed a childhood.” All of the burps in “Burp” are real.

The creative approach is based on the insight that kids can’t be kids when they’re hungry, and World Vision’s efforts are letting them recapture a small—but ultimately life-affirming—part of childhood.

“The focus of the campaign is to show Canadians the tangible impact that World Vision’s efforts make in children’s lives and encourage them to help join in our meaningful efforts…a burp is music to our ears,” said Martin Campbell, Vice President, Marketing, World Vision Canada.
 

“The burp is a universal language, and we liked taking something that can sometimes be frowned upon and turning it into a moment of triumph,” adds BHLA Creative Director Marty Hoefkes. “The burp is inherently funny to kids, and World Vision Canada is helping children around the world to be childish in a way many of us take for granted." 

“Burp”, directed by the duo of Aaron and Winston Tao (AKA: TAO/S), launched on Oct. 4 and will be followed later this month by a series of supporting giving season spots that run until the end of the year. The campaign is anchored by the 30 second OLV. The media buy includes cut downs in :15s and :06 across OLV, programmatic and display ads, as well as social.

The campaign is supported by key communications partners, including Broken Heart Love Affair (Strategy/Creative), Starcom Canada (Media), Aardvark Inc. (XM & Event Marketing), and North Strategic (Public Relations).

ABOUT WORLD VISION CANADA
World Vision Canada World Vision is a five-star-rated relief, development and advocacy organization working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visit worldvision.ca

About Broken Heart Love Affair

Named Small Agency of the Year, and AdAge Silver Newcomer Agency, Broken Heart Love Affair is a global brand agency based in Toronto and the partnership of industry veterans Jason Chaney, Carlos Moreno, Denise Rossetto, Todd Mackie, and Beverley Hammond. BHLA is focused on gathering the most decorated talent on a mission to bring back the love for brands, clients, and the creative community. The agency’s roster of category-leading client partners includes Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), Destination Ontario (DO), GoRVing, Green Shield, Kruger Products LP, Lactalis, La Maison Simons, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF), ROM, Simplii Financial, Toys R Us, World Vision and more.

Credits
Title: Burp

Client: World Vision Canada
President and CEO: Michael Messenger
Vice President, Marketing: Martin Campbell
Director, Brand, Creative and Campaigns: Jennifer Watton

Agency: Broken Heart Love Affair
Chief Strategy Officer: Jay Chaney
Creative Directors: Mike Morelli & Marty Hoefkes
Art Director: Mike Morelli
Copywriter: Marty Hoefkes
EVP, Managing Director: Tyler Robson
VP, Client Success: Melissa Tobenstein
Director, Client Success: Tiffany Stewart
Account Executive: Sweetha Mahendran
SVP, Executive Producer: Erica Metcalfe

Production Company: Holiday Films
Executive Producer: Josefina Nadurata
Director: TAO/S
Director of Photography: Brandon Blight
Production Service Company: The Big Picture Company
Line Producer: Kirsten Bowman

Casting Company: Casting Me
Casting Director: Tracey Lund

Editorial Company: Saints Editorial
Executive Producers: Michelle Rich, Emily McKay
Editor: Ross Birchall
Assistant Editor: Phoebe Lorimer

Visual Effects: Darling VFX
VFX Artist: Paul Binney
Executive Producer: Morgan Campbell

Colour Company: Darling VFX
Colourist: Kassi Bellamy
Executive Producer: Morgan Campbell

Audio House: Grayson Music
Creative Director: Mark Domitric
Executive Producer: Kelly McCluskey

PR Agency: North Strategic
Vice President: Joanna Leong

Media Agency: Starcom Inc.
Account Director: Muz Hamza
Associate Director: Peter Forde
Account Director: Muz Hamza