Rain Barrel Communications — Rain Barrel Communications Blog

The Flow

NEWS, COMMENTARY, AND TOOLS, FROM RAIN BARREL AND OUR ASSOCIATES. YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN IN AND USE!

FEATURED

The Flow

Tomas Jensen sits down with Ellen Weiss to highlight the expertise that has come to define Rain Barrel’s primary work as a consultancy network of SBC experts.

Looking back at 2022 and moving forward

We take this opportunity to update you on our activities in a world in turmoil, where we are compelled to engage with communities that are confronting so many challenges. Many of you have joined us in these efforts to promote fundamental change for the better and we thank you.

Re-entry from Prison: Mindset and Behavior Change

One in Four was a project that amplified the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals. Their moving, deeply personal stories connected the dots to systemic injustices that fuel poverty, racism, crime and incarceration. The biggest takeaway for me, as a communicator, is our responsibility to promote social justice at the same time as individual behavior change. In many ways, Rain Barrel’s mission is remarkably compatible with the goals of criminal justice reform advocates.

Improving Public Health: Rural/Urban Challenges

Kelvin Kihindras, a Kenyan researcher who joined our roster of Associates earlier in 2022, brings his passion for social and behavior change communications to Rain Barrel as our work in Africa and other regions expands.

Nhi Tong: On Social Media, Diversity and Train Trips

Rain Barrel’s co-founder Paul Hoeffel recently talked to Nhi, who continues to work with us from Hanoi, her hometown, as our Web and Social Media Manager.

Laotian Breastfeeding Campaign Highlights Key Role of Pre-Testing

At the request of the Ministry of Health and UNICEF in Lao PDR, Rain Barrel Communications and Blue Grass Design Group, a Vientiane-based design consultancy, joined forces to develop and pre-test communications materials in support of the Decree.

Incorporating Facebook Promotional Ads into Social Good Campaigns

How we helped UN Women Argentina gain 10,000 new Facebook followers and reach over 4.7 million people, all in just two months.

More helmets, less reckless driving

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Investment Bank contracted Rain Barrel Communications and Blue Grass Design Group in Lao PDR to address another pandemic: Reckless and drunk driving in Lao PDR. This is the story about how we created a campaign to promote road safety in the quiet heart of South East Asia.

From Ghana with love: A crash course in solidarity

This is the incredible tale about Ghanaian students in Hungary who has welcomed, fed, housed and cared for hundreds of students who have had to flee the war in Ukraine. This is why why continue to have faith in humanity. Read and see their story

Together Far Apart: A Podcast About Local Solutions to Global Challenges

Rain Barrel has produce five episodes for the Together Far Apart podcast series, about the shared challenges of communities that may be far apart on the globe but are united in their hopes and ambitions for a brighter future. It was a profound experience to co-create the podcasts together with United Nations Office for the Most Vulnerable States (UN-OHRLLS) and four amazing local producers. Read the full story

Amanda Westfall: Stories from the field. Many fields

Amanda Westfall is a RBC co-director based in Argentina where she coordinates a number of social change projects in the Latin America region, often in collaboration with her husband, Santiago, a communications specialist and also a RBC Associate. This is her story.

Rain Barrel's Approach to Digital Advocacy for Ecuador’s Children

Rain Barrel Communications recently supported UNICEF Ecuador to co-create a digital campaign to advocate for the importance of ensuring government expenditures for basic services for children, especially during emergency situations. Learn what we did and what we achieved.

Tools and Resources

Screen Shot 2020-03-09 at 12.40.27 AM.png

Participatory Research Toolkit