Sound Affects is highly relevant for the audio category because of its innovative approach to leveraging audio to support a significant social cause.

The campaign addresses how certain sounds can trigger PTSD episodes in conflict victims, and also offers a creative solution, using audio production to recreate sounds of conflict, that can be downloaded on our online library.

These could have been created digitally. However, to be authentic to the idea, we partnered with foley artists, who painstakingly created the sounds exclusively with everyday items, highlighting how sounds have the power to make a difference

ONE OF THE LOWEST POINTS IN THE HISTORY OF REFUGEE CRISES

UNHCR’s most recent study estimated that, in 2023, for the first time in recorded history, the number of people forcibly displaced was 110 million, with over 36.4 million refugees.

90% OF VICTIMS OF CONFLICT SUFFER FROM PTSD

In fact, new studies estimate that nearly 100% of children from certain conflict zones will grow up to suffer from PTSD. It is widely said that “you can take a person out of the conflict. It’s even harder to take the conflict out of a person.” For most refugees, escaping conflict is only the beginning of their problems. The scars of war and oppression continue to haunt them until the very end.

In the audio led campaign, a collection of sound effects was created, each linked to the personal stories of PTSD survivors. These sounds, which replicated common PTSD triggers, were made available for download in a specially designed online library. Users could download these sounds for use in various media and entertainment projects. With every download, funds were raised to support the trauma victims associated with those sound effects, thereby providing a dual benefit: enriching creative content and aiding those in need of psychological support due to the traumas of war and conflict.

THE IMPACT OF MUNDANE SOUNDS ON PTSD

With 4 out of 5 PTSD episodes being triggered by sounds*, noises from the

simplest and most mundane, everyday items such as vacuum cleaners, and electric razors take them back to their trauma.

While for many, these sounds may evoke familiar feelings of home, comfort, and joy, for millions of victims affected by war, these everyday sounds are PTSD triggers, that take them back to traumatic moments or the past.

83% OF NGOs STRUGGLE TO SECURE CONTINUOUS FUNDING

While several NGOs provide aid, sustaining funds is a recurring challenge, making it even harder for victims to get access to help.

Sixieme Son, one of the world’s leading sound design companies aimed to use their credentials and expertise to harness the meaningful power of sounds, tackle sonic trauma, and support those affected by war.

*source: Biomed Central

In just two weeks, our sound waves made ripples everywhere:

85% response rate

58 media mentions

1.5M$ earned media

78% Donation consideration

Using foley techniques, we created a library of sound effects exclusively from everyday items that mimicked PTSD triggers. Each sound reflected a real story of a traumatic experience.

Out of respect for the victims who shared their stories, every detail of each soundtrack was carefully crafted, taking into consideration their descriptions of exactly what occurred in the events they described.

And just like that, a sewing machine became a passing tank, a water stream transformed into an explosion, bubble wrap mimicked gunshots, and traumas that caused pain became a form of healing for those who suffered.

A highly targeted campaign invited media, entertainment, and production communities to our library, where they could download the sounds, with 100% of proceeds directed to NGOs supporting PTSD victims from conflict zones.

By choosing Sound Affects, buyers could not only enhance their creative projects but also contribute to the healing journeys of PTSD victims.

The work innovatively used the audio medium by transforming everyday sounds into a mechanism for social impact, leveraging the familiar to highlight and address the complexities of PTSD.

By employing foley techniques to recreate sounds that are PTSD triggers, the campaign turned common audio clips into powerful narratives of survival and resilience.

This approach not only raised awareness about the unseen struggles of trauma survivors but also established a new, sustainable model for fundraising.

Through the audio medium, the campaign facilitated a direct connection between the act of purchasing sound effects and supporting trauma victims, making each download a meaningful contribution to healing.

This innovative use of sound effects transcended traditional uses of audio, blending storytelling, empathy, and action in a unique and impactful way.