By Jeni Gamble | Director of Partnerships & Global Engagement
In just one year since its global release, The Lucky Specials continues to entertain and educate communities with vital health information about TB. This recognition demonstrates the strong appetite for high-quality impact media initiatives set in a vibrant African context.
With the support of the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services during TB Awareness Week in October 2017, The Lucky Specials inspired an increase in tuberculosis prevention and testing in Namibia. Based on 2015 health data, Namibia is reported to have 12,000 new TB cases every year. In mid-February 2018, the film was broadcast by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation and is expected to have reached millions of households, encouraging TB testing and follow-on treatment that can save thousands of lives.
In countries across Africa, the film continues to be promoted on television, online, and via radio. To date, it has been broadcast in 14 countries on three continents and is slated to reach millions more through continued broadcast and DVD distribution over this year and beyond. Its grassroots delivery approach has allowed for over 10,000 DVDs to be circulated through local and international NGOs, government agencies, and public health experts. In the near future, new television broadcasts are planned in Trinidad, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The awards and recognition from global film festivals have also continued.Recently, The Lucky Specials was designated as an Official Selection at thePan African Film Festival, the largest and most prestigious black film competition in the U.S., showcasing black film and art from around the world. And following a December 2017 broadcast in South Africa, which reached a national audience and millions of households, it was nominated by the 12th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS).
It’s not often that a film that is so enjoyable can make such a difference for so many, but for The Lucky Specials, its memorable acting and soundtrack, woven together with a powerful message, has been its secret for success!
Links:
By Jeni Gamble | Director of Partnerships & Global Engagement
By Michelle Betton | Communications Specialist
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
