Keziah’s Secret Armour

The Challenge:

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC) sought to elevate the storytelling element of the Youth Moment during the 2024 Teddy Bear Affair Gala, a key fundraising and recognition event for CAFC.

This involved profiling and empowering Keziah, a beneficiary of CAFC’s services and funding. The Youth Moment aimed to demonstrate the foundation’s positive impact on young lives, inspiring trust and continued support from major partners, funders, and event attendees.

By showcasing Keziah’s journey, we sought to deepen emotional connections with stakeholders and encourage greater financial and philanthropic contributions to the organization.

Key Success Factors:

Emotional Storytelling: Keziah’s journey served as the cornerstone of the Youth Moment. Her resilience and courage evoked empathy and inspired hope.
Event Context: The gala’s reputation as a celebration of resilience and philanthropy provided a meaningful platform to connect emotionally with attendees and sustain their commitment.
Brand Positioning: By sharing Keziah’s story, the campaign reinforced CAFC’s reputation as a trusted and impactful organization.
Fundraising Goals: The campaign emphasized the importance of stakeholder contributions by showcasing tangible outcomes, fostering pride and responsibility among donors.

We were tasked with developing beautiful illustrations to accompany the e-book: Keziah’s Secret Armour.

Candela also brought the e-book to life, by creating an animated video adaptation to visually tell Keziah’s story during the Youth Moment. This included recorded audio narration of Keziah reading the book, integrated into the video. This personal touch added authenticity and created a deeper emotional connection with the audience.

Strategic Considerations:
To ensure the Youth Moment stood out as a meaningful centerpiece of the evening, a multi-sensory approach to storytelling was taken.

The stage production included a young actress who played a 12-year-old Keziah as she sat alone in her bedroom worrying about her future as her family was torn apart due to violence in the home. Keziah plays herself as an adult reading her life story back to the young Keziah, and reassuring her that life gets better due of the support from CAFC.

This approach used a a blend of live performance, video animation, and audio narration. This strategy allowed the audience to witness the power of support and stability through the eyes of a child and the reflection of her future self.

Understanding the Audience:
The Teddy Bear Affair attracts an audience of donors and stakeholders who are already aligned with CAFC’s values, but who seek a deeper connection to the outcomes of their giving. This group includes seasoned philanthropists, executives, and long-time supporters of children’s charities. They are motivated not just by data or appeals, but by stories that reflect perseverance, growth, and impact.

The Creative Approach:
At the heart of the Youth Moment was Keziah, whose story formed the basis of the book, Keziah’s Secret Armour. Her book was adapted into a three-part presentation during the Youth Moment:

Narrated Animation: Featuring Keziah’s own voice reading her book, layered over original illustrations and subtle animation.
Theatrical Performance: A young actress portrayed 12-year-old Keziah, sitting alone in her bedroom, giving the audience a window into her fears and uncertainty.
Live Reflection: The real Keziah appeared on stage as her adult self, reading from her book and offering reassurance to her younger self. This creative device brought the story full circle.

This structure allowed guests to not just hear Keziah’s story but feel it. It built empathy, awareness, and inspiration in real time.

Content in Action:
Every element of the Youth Moment was designed to carry Keziah’s voice. The custom illustrations created by our agency, along with the tailored animation, worked together to bring depth and intimacy to the Gala experience. The moment invited the audience to sit with discomfort, then move toward hope.

This emotionally layered storytelling also served as a powerful affirmation of CAFC’s mission. With the right support, even the most vulnerable children can move from fear to stability, and from survival to self-expression.

Key Deliverables:

Emotional Storytelling: Keziah’s journey, illustrated through her book, served as the cornerstone of the campaign. Her resilience and courage evoked empathy and inspired hope.
Event Context: The gala’s reputation as a celebration of resilience and philanthropy provided a meaningful platform to connect emotionally with attendees and sustain their commitment.
Brand Positioning: By sharing Keziah’s story, the campaign reinforced CAFC’s reputation as a trusted and impactful organization.
Fundraising Goals: The campaign emphasized the importance of stakeholder contributions by showcasing tangible outcomes, fostering pride and responsibility among donors.

Story Adaptation & Production:

Our agency developed a video and narration structure that matched the emotional tone of the event

Creative & Design:

Created original illustrations and animation that matched and elevated the story within Keziah’s book

Audience Experience:

Positioned the Youth Moment as a narrative and emotional peak of the evening
Delivered an experience that left attendees moved, inspired, and ready to act

Results That Matter:
The campaign’s impact extended beyond applause. The Youth Moment drew heartfelt feedback from attendees, many of whom called it the most moving and memorable part of the evening.

Notably, the illustrations in the book were so beautiful that CAFC has decided to find a sponsor to print the book and include it in a care package to be given to every child entering the child welfare system.

This outcome reflects more than successful storytelling. It shows how one voice, thoughtfully amplified, can ripple outward and help others feel seen, supported, and understood.