Pinterest in change

Since its inception, Pinterest has been a space where users can share images they stumble across online. Pinterest profiles have become interactive wishlists and inspiration boards filled with pictures of desired clothes, home craft ideas and dream holiday locations, but never before has the frivolity and mindless consumerism of this act been made so transparent. Like the #firstworldproblems trend on Twitter, UNICEF’s newest campaign has provided perspective on what’s really important to us as humans.

In their latest campaign to raise awareness for children living in poverty, UNICEF has created a fictional Pinterest profile for real-life 13-year-old girl, Ami Musa from Sierra Leone. Her board titled “Really Want These” isn’t brimming with nail art or dinner party recipes, but instead features photographs of the most basic of human needs – grain, running water, soap. Things we, pinning photos of our future converted warehouse apartments, take for granted. Each pin on Ami Musa’s board links to UNICEF’s website where you can make donations towards necessities including school supplies, clean water and shelter for children like her.

UNICEF isn’t the first non-profit to use Pinterest for the greater good; charity:water, World Wildlife Fund and Amnesty International USA all have profiles. However, Ami Musa’s sets itself apart by highlighting the freedom with which we pin and the shocking imbalance of wealth and opportunity in our world in a thought-provoking way. Whether UNICEF’s efforts indicate the beginning of a Pinterest campaigning trend is yet to be seen, but it definitely seems that where there’s excess, there are opportunities to make a difference. You just need to find the right platform.

– Laura James

Laura is a communications graduate and copywriter. You can follow her @the_prattler