From needs analysis to eLearning program production, LX Labs (Onlea) collaborated with the Canadian Women's Foundation to help regular people respond to signs of gender-based violence in a safe and supportive way.

The Canadian Women’s Foundation supports women, girls, and gender-diverse people through funding, research, advocacy, and knowledge sharing.

A key area of their work is combating gender-based violence.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Women’s Foundation created the Signal for Help, a simple one-handed sign someone can use on a video call to silently show they need help and want someone to check in with them in a safe way.

I illustrated and animated the optional final immersive scenario using Adobe Illustrator and After Effects.

You can see some samples of the Final Scenario further down on this page.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Women’s Foundation created the Signal for Help, a simple one-handed sign someone experiencing abuse can use on a video call to silently show they need help. Building on the signal’s success, the Foundation engaged Onlea to design and build an interactive, engaging, low-barrier eLearning experience to help people respond to the Signal for Help or other signs of gender-based violence in a safe and supportive way.

They needed a solution sensitive to the stigma and silence that often surrounds this issue, and was inclusive, fully accessible, and available in both French and English.

Following a series of workshops to identify the target audience, Onlea designed and created a non-linear micro-course program that allows diverse learners to focus on areas most relevant to their needs.

Modules provide quick and practical information, reinforced through engaging interactive scenarios with custom graphics.

An optional final immersive scenario created using our custom-built interactive tool allows learners to practice their new skills in a realistic but low-stakes environment.

More information about the Signal for Help Responder course can be found on the Canadian Women’s Foundation website: Become a Signal for Help Responder.