Objective:

Create a YouTube video of people asking one of your leaders to support the l’Aide publique au développement (APD) budget. The video should address your chosen leader directly. Your leader already knows they are receiving phone calls from their call reports – The purpose of these videos is to explain WHY they should support the APD. Be creative and make sure people aren’t just reading off of a script or calling and leaving their leader a message! Ask yourself, if you were the leader or staffer viewing your video, would you be engaged? If the answer is no, create a new version before publishing it online. 

Why this matters:

Parliamentary offices monitor when the leader is mentioned online. These videos will be seen by the leaders’ Communications Directors and often the leader as well. 

Maximize your impact:

1. Come up with a creative idea. Draft out what you’ll want people to say in the video. Be sure to include WHY your leader should support the l’Aide publique au développement (APD) budget. 
2. Include other people to be in your video – friends, family, neighbours, other students, etc. You want to show strength in numbers. 
3. Film footage and edit the video. The shorter the better (think 1-3 minutes). 
4. Create a YouTube account if you don’t have one and upload the video. Make sure the video is set to public. If the video is private or unlisted, your MP or their office wouldn’t be able to find it and view it!
5. IMPORTANT: Optimize the name and description. Parliamentary offices receive summaries of where the leader is mentioned online, so it’s key that the video’s title and description name the leader and the l’Aide publique au développement (APD) budget. For example, name the video « Monsieur Jean-Noël Barrot, Veuillez Soutenir l’Aide publique au développement (APD). » In the video description, mention the leader’s name, l’Aide publique au développement (APD) and that you’re constituents who support The Borgen Project. 

What the title and verbiage should say:

The title and description need to mention the leader’s name and l’Aide publique au développement (APD). The script of the video should also mention the leader’s name and ask them to support the l’Aide publique au développement (APD) budget. 

• Example of a Good Title: « Monsieur Jean-Noël Barrot, Veuillez Soutenir l’Aide publique au développement (APD) »
• Example of a Good Description: « Monsieur Jean-Noël Barrot, nous sommes convaincus que vous avez la capacité d’améliorer la vie de milliers de personnes en soutenant l’aide publique au développement (APD). En tant qu’électeurs de votre circonscription et partisans du projet Borgen, nous croyons que les valeurs de notre circonscription sont mieux représentées lorsque nous contribuons à améliorer la vie de ceux qui sont nés dans l’extrême pauvreté. »

This is how it’s done!

Why this video is a huge success…