When you think of puppets, do you think about Punch and Judy for kids or those giant freaky paper mache puppets that seem to show up at every anti-globalization rally? Maybe you should start thinking about social marketing. The recent edition of the Drum Beat from the Communication Initiative features resources on puppetry for development. It includes examples of programs around the world that have used puppets to address issues related to intergenerational connections, general and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, democracy and governance, and human rights. A particularly good introduction to the topic can be found in UNICEF’s excerpts from Puppets with a Purpose: Using Puppetry for Social Change.
I’m not sure whether in the American culture adults would accept puppets as a way of imparting information or motivation for change outside of Sesame Street. But it has been quite successful in many other cultures that have a long tradition of puppetry as entertainment or education.
And what kid doesn’t love puppets? (Okay, I’ll admit that I didn’t for a long time after I saw an outdoor puppet show when I was very small where a dragon puppet breathed real fire and I ran away screaming, but other than that, you get my point.) If the age/culture you are addressing is appropriate, consider how you might be able to use puppets to get your message across.
Technorati Tags: puppets, social change, marketing, development
Nedra helps nonprofits and public agencies create positive change on health and social issues through social marketing and transmedia storytelling strategies at Weinreich Communications since founding the company in 1995. She helps organizations make a difference for the populations they serve by strategically designing programs that draw on state-of-the-art behavior change techniques, digital media approaches and the power of stories. 
