A British department store Christmas ad featuring foster families has become a hot topic. What is a heartwarming story | HuffPost WORLD
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In England, the advertisement of the long-established department store “John Lewis” has become a winter tradition that makes you feel the arrival of Christmas.
With heartwarming stories on various themes, it has captured people’s hearts for over 10 years.
The title of the 2022 advertisement announced on November 10 is “Beginner”. In the ad, a man desperately practices his skateboard for Christmas.
No matter how you look at it, this man doesn’t seem to be a master of skateboarding. He keeps practicing despite falling over and over again, sometimes sneaking his skateboard into work.
Why do you practice skateboarding so much? The reason for this becomes clear at the end of the ad.
Ellie, a teenage girl, comes to the house where he and his partner live for Christmas.
Ellie was raised in social care (children without guardians or who cannot be properly raised by guardians are raised by society as a whole, such as foster parents), and she looks anxious next to a social worker. Holding a skateboard while floating.
The man was practicing skateboarding in order to become a foster parent and welcome Ellie.
The most important thing is “What do you do?”
The ad was created as part of John Lewis’s “Build a Happy Future” campaign. The campaign provides long-term support for young people growing up in social care.
Christmas is the biggest event of the year for John Lewis. “During a difficult year, we felt it was important to show that ‘What matters most is what you do,'” explaining why the ad featured foster families, according to a press release. is doing.
“Through our Christmas ads, we are proud to create conversation and action on issues that are often overlooked.”
“Family is important to John Lewis, and we believe it comes in many forms,” said Customer Director Claire Pointon. We decided to focus on one form of family,” he said.
Various reactions from foster parents
How did the actual foster parents feel about the advertisement?
“It brought tears to my eyes,” said Faye, who lives in South London. “It’s about what we do for young people.”HuffPost UK Editionspoke to
Carol, who lives in Leeds, said she was moved when she saw the ad.
“This ad shows how we, foster parents, welcome our children. Making Christmas a special time is so important for our foster children.”
Also, Louise Hunter, CEO of Who Cares?, an organization that helps young people raised in foster care, said, “I’m so happy that John Lewis featured a different kind of family in his Christmas ad. I think it will resonate with thousands of British people growing up.”
On the other hand, not everyone welcomes the content of advertising. Writer Cathy Glass, who has been her foster parent for nearly 30 years, said, “I didn’t understand the purpose of the video after watching it once.”
“I didn’t see the struggles of getting into social care, and I felt it wasn’t an accurate portrayal,” Glass said.
Poynton of John Lewis also says that reality isn’t always as wonderful as the ads portray it.
“Not every foster home is as great as Ellie’s. I wanted to convey it through my actions.”
HuffPost UK EditionI translated and edited the article of
