Kunhadi interview with May Abdouny

After we all watched the Kunhadi Mothers day TVC, we present to you an interview with May Abdouny from Kunhadi to answer some of our questions. enjoy

1- In a country like Lebanon, were any one over 18 can pay for a driving license and get it with out a test or even a driving orientation, what is the role that Kunhadi plays to stop those actions and keep our youth safe?

By spreading awareness through our campaigns and road safety presentations that we give around the Lebanese schools, bit-by-bit we’re creating a conscientious way of thinking that condemns any acquirement of the driving license without the required skills. Moreover, Kunhadi is planning on establishing a driving school with the assistance of trainers from the UK to teach new drivers about road ethics.

2- How do you rate the governments cooperation with kunhadi to improve the traffic and driving regulations in Lebanon?

Since Kunhadi has established its reputation and credibility, the government gives us its moral support.

3- do you think your mothers day ad delivered the message it holds?

Thanks to M&C Saatchi and Zoe’s Production House, Mothers Day campaign (visuals and TVC) has received an excellent feedback! It even appeared in one of the best international advertizing bloggs, The Inspiration Room, was even blogged weeks after the campaign was over. So yes, we do believe that this touching campaign did reach the hearts of our audience and succeeded in showing them that despite their love for speed, there’s someone who loves them much much more and will be in a terrible pain, if anything should happen to them while driving.

4- focusing on the mothers emotions in the ad the mothers got affected and touched by the ad, but do you think the youth have been touched or affected as well?

Mothers were certainly more affected than their children. Our objective was to transmit the message to mothers too, so they would be strict with their children concerning reckless driving and forbid them from going to parties using their own cars. Mothers too have an important role in rooting the culture of safe driving in the minds of their children.
Add to that the feedback that we received from so many young drivers telling us this campaign was one of the most touching they’ve ever seen.

5- what are kunhadi's activities on the ground and how can the public participate?

Kunhadi has several activities:

-          We give at least 3 road safety presentations per week around Lebanese schools, universities and companies for free

-          Distribution of road safety gadgets: free helmets, free high-visibility jackets (for road users at night) etc.

-          Kunhadi installs one safe crossing (zebra stripes) per year

-          Installation of road signs and retro-reflective markings on dangerous highways and roads

-  Organizing Taxi night/year, where party goers benefit from the services of a free taxi to go take them back home.

-  Launching of 2 road safety campaigns per year

-  Shooting 31 TV Driving Tips  

-  In May 2011, Kunhadi is going to launch the UN Decade of Action for road safety 2011-2020 in Lebanon, which is a global road safety project aiming the stabilization and decrease of traffic injuries and fatalities

You can check our events on our website and social media accounts and see how you can participate:

-          Volunteering

-          Participating in our events (parties, gala dinners etc.)

-          Sponsoring

-          Donating

6- being a non-profit organization, how do you fund you activities and campaigns? And how can the readers donate to kunhadi?

For the past 5 years, Kunhadi has been able to change the behavior of road users, and is still committed to improving road safety in Lebanon. We have gained the confidence of the Lebanese community, hence, large companies and banks, which are always willing to collaborate with us on road safety projects through sponsoring our campaigns and events.

We also benefit from donations:

To donate to Kunhadi, please contact us our office on:
+961 5 45 05 16 or +961 71 264415

Or make the donation at any Byblos Bank branch:

Account name: Kunhadi
account number in LBP: 200 0666024 002
account number in USD: 200 0666024 001

Or at any BBAC Bank Branch:

Account name: Kunhadi
account number in LBP: 0002 293386 001
account number in USD: 0002 293386 002
From outside Lebanon swift code: BBAC LBBX, Kunhadi
account number in LBP: 0002 293386 001
account number in USB: 0002 293386 002

Last word:

The leading cause of death among young people in Lebanon is car crashes. More than 500 people are killed on the Lebanese roads every year, most of them are young people aged between 15-29 years old!

In four years, Kunhadi had been able to sensitize people to the importance or road safety and had begun to shape the drivers’ behaviour in a more road-safety oriented way and we’re succeeding in halting the increase or car crashes.

Kunhadi recommends 6 simple vaccines to drastically decrease all traffic fatalities:

1-     Respect speed limits

2-      Don’t drink and drive

3-     Fasten the seatbelt (even in the backseat!)

4-      Use the helmet

5-     Do not drive if you’re tired

6-     Don’t write a text message while you’re driving

I hope the Lebanese youth will appreciate the effort that Kunhadi is employing to help them stay alive and hopefuly they will become more responsible.

Always drive safely,  Elie Hanna