This entertaining Alexa skill inspires kids to give back this Halloween
Alexa's got a new skill, and it's spooky and impactful at the same time.
To get into the seasonal spirit, UNICEF USA and digital marketing group FRSH have launched a new Halloween skill for Amazon's personal assistant. Kids and their families can ask Alexa about Halloween fun facts, play games, and learn how they can help other kids in need — all through their Alexa-enabled devices, like the Amazon Echo.
The effort expands on the organization's long-running "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" campaign, which first launched more than 60 years ago. The Alexa skill is a modern update for the Halloween tradition that encourages kids to collect money in UNICEF's iconic orange boxes as they go door-to-door for candy. Since the campaign began in 1950, kids have raised nearly $177 million in support of UNICEF's efforts to "help kids who need more than candy."
The new Alexa skill aims to inspire more families to get involved in the campaign. The "Daily Treats" feature coincides with the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF calendar, which unlocks stories, quizzes, and giveaways. There are also how-to videos and tips to help children make a difference, like how to create a crowdfunding campaign.
Families will also find a "Simon Says"-type game called "Ghosty Says," and a playlist of scary Halloween sounds.
"UNICEF USA is excited to launch a second Alexa skill with FRSH to bring the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF experience to homes across the nation," said Jennifer Roberti, senior vice president of marketing and communications at UNICEF USA, in a statement.
"Kids and families can engage in the original Kids Helping Kids campaign in a fresh and exciting way."
"This Halloween season, kids and families can engage in the original Kids Helping Kids campaign in a fresh and exciting way."
This year, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has a special focus on disaster relief, raising money to help kids affected by recent disasters, such as the devastation caused by hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, and earthquakes in Mexico.
According to UNICEF, $1 raised can buy pencils for a class of 30 students, $8 can fund safe water for one family to drink, and $15 can buy five mosquito nets to protect kids from malaria. A $55 donation can buy a box of life-saving food treatment for a child suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Earlier this month, UNICEF USA and FRSH announced another Alexa skill in conjunction with its Kid Power initiative, inspiring kids to help malnourished children around the world.
FRSH has launched variety of socially conscious and identities-focused skills for kids on its Amazon page, from highlighting important women across the globe to facts for Black History Month.
Along with the new Alexa skill, kids and families can join the campaign through social media by following the hashtags #TOT4UNICEF and #BeScaryGood.
Topics Activism Alexa Amazon Alexa Social Good
Matt Petronzio was the Social Good Editor at Mashable, where he led coverage surrounding social impact, activism, identities, and world-changing innovation. He was based at the New York City headquarters from January 2012 to April 2018, and previously worked as the assistant features editor.
