[PRESS OFFICE] For the past 50 years, JCDecaux Africa has been at the forefront of innovative out of home campaigns, delivering impactful and engaging messages. The SHOUT4MASKS campaign is one of them.
It is because of our deep understanding within this space, and our commitment to social causes, that JCDecaux Africa was delighted to collaborate with Mediology (winners of the Financial Mail AdFocus 2019 Independent Media Agency of the Year), Net#work BBDO (the leading creative agency in South Africa) and the Shout Foundation (a non-profit organisation that focuses primarily on building libraries in disadvantaged communities within South Africa), on a public service campaign called SHOUT4MASKS.
It is aimed at raising funds to purchase and distribute protective masks to “help make South Africa safer by protecting those who protect us”.
Mediology had the audacious idea to create the largest protective mask in Africa and have it featured on a billboard.
“The SHOUT4MASKS campaign has been privileged and honoured to have partnered with Marc Taback (group managing director of Mediology) and Christo Van Den Bergh. Marc’s creativity and determination has been the driving force in gaining us magnificent traction with all the media owners in South Africa,” said Danny K and Kabelo Mabalane, co-founders of SHOUT4MASKS.
Thanks to the expertise of Wow Guru Innovations (a unique design, fabrication and installation company) and Beith Digital (market leaders in digital printing), a 3D fabric mask that spans four metres in length and 3.6 meters in width and weighs (together with its support framework) 180kg, was created.
A high-profile site on the M1 South Johannesburg was selected from JCDecaux Africa’s network to maximise reach and exposure. It is estimated to reach over 1.6 million people between 30 September 2020 and 31 December 2020, delivering over 31 million impressions.
In addition, the team at large was cognisant of reducing the carbon footprint of a project of this magnitude. This will be achieved by extending the application of the mask by repurposing the mask material and creating protective masks – further adding to and delivering on the cause and campaign’s intention.
Taback said, “We believe that creativity and innovation can be used to make a difference. We are proud of this work and the impact the campaign has had. We are grateful to all our partners on this campaign, who contributed their time, expertise, and resources at no cost. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when we work together to help our nation.”
SHOUT4MASKS has already been able to distribute hundreds of thousands of masks to our nurses and doctors in South Africa, thanks to the overwhelming kindness and generosity of the community.
The SHOUT4MASKS co-founders added their thanks in saying, “We could not have raised the much-needed funding without our partners. Words can never express adequately our feelings of immense gratitude to all who were involved and their magnanimous gestures in providing their skill at no charge”.
Learn more about how you can get involved with this incredible initiative here.
JCDecaux Africa is the #1 out of home media specialist in Africa, offering a broad range of digital and static advertising solutions across 19 countries with dedicated offices and teams in each market. JCDecaux Africa has strategic holdings in highly sought-after locations and environments, offering a host of advertising formats, including Airports, Gautrain, Roadside Digital (RSD), Roadside Static, Iconic, Mall, and Street Furniture. JCDecaux Africa services the largest media agencies, multinationals, and biggest brands from around the world. Our media planning and strategy are based on a host of in-depth research and insights tools, with the aim of maximising our clients’ advertising spend and delivering on their campaign objectives.
