United Creatives
United Creatives is a virtual programme by UNDP training young leaders in Sri Lanka and the Maldives to build creative digital campaigns that help end hate speech, amplify positive messages, and create social change.
SPINDL was commissioned to help publicize the initiative to complement UNDP's broader digital peacebuilding and PVE mandate. Two major themes relating to the programme's objectives and that are known drivers of extremism in both countries were identified: mental health, and harmful concepts of masculinity. Two animations were therefore developed together with two participants of the United Creatives programme, encouraging audiences to be authentic rather than appeasing socially constructed norms of gender, and to talk to someone they trust if they are struggling.
Mental health
Trying to keep anxiety at bay in a global pandemic is no easy feat. Taking a break from social media every so often can be a good idea. But there are other important things that we can do in order to help change the digital environment for the better, and support one another. We asked Kaveesha about her advice for looking after her mental health online.
Masculinity
Society’s definition of what it means to be a man or a woman can be constraining. It limits women’s opportunities, and pressures men to repress their emotions. But we each have the power to change the status quo. After years of wrestling between his conscience and his social status, Saahithiyanan is one of a growing number of men determined to live more authentically.