The Project Headshots Clinic of photographer Niccolo Cosme lent its unique concept of digitized profile photos to launch the social media campaign in support of young people's rights for World Population Day 2014.
With this year's WPD theme "Investing in Young People," Project Headshots Clinic photographed celebrities and advocates to kick off the "selfie" campaign to encourage social media users to participate and express their support for the rights of adolescents and youth. In the Philippines, the campaign focused on three key issues of young people - adolescent sexual and reproductive health, universal access to basic education and youth unemployment.
Among the celebrities who lent their time and faces for the campaign are Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago, actor/model Luke Jickain, comedian Ramon Bautista, radio DJ and TV personality Sam YG, writer Wanggo Gallaga, singer Radha, Miss Philippine Earth 2014 winners Jamie Herrell, Bianca Paz, Diane Carmela Querrer and Monique Manuel, Miss Earth Foundation Executive Director and Y-PEER Pilipinas Celebrity Ambassador Princess Manzon, and football player Harry Morris of the Philippine Volcanoes.
The UN Resident Coordinator for the Philippines Luiza Carvalho, as well as UNFPA Country Representative Klaus Beck and International Labour Organization Country Director Jeff Johnson are also featured in the campaign.
Explaining the concept of the message circle in the portraits, Cosme said the circle symbolizes the inclusive aspect of the development. “We put the face inside the circle to convey the message that we have to put ourselves in the issues of young people to promote better understanding and for us to be part of the solution,” he said.The Project Headshots Clinc has successfully launches a series of HIV advocacy campaigns such as "I'm Living with HIV" and the Red Whistle Campaign, which featured celebrities in digitized headshots.
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