# Faux Infomercials VSO Ireland Chooses Humor to Promote Voluntary Overseas Service By Shelby Lee Walsh | Published 2010-01-27 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vso-ireland References: [adsoftheworld](http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/vso_ireland_voluntry_service_overseas) & [vso.ie](http://www.vso.ie/) VSO Ireland (Voluntary Service Overseas) is taking the [humor route](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-rewards-program) to get teachers to go to places where they are needed such as Guyana, Ghana, Nepal and Mongolia. The ad (at first glance) appears to be some horrible [1980s or 1990s infomercial](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/matty-matheson-and-gozney) for unnecessary products, but it is actually a cleverly disguised ad for VSO Ireland. Check out the video above to see how a very serious and helpful organization is using humor to [spread awareness](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thrift-it-back) and promote voluntary services overseas. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 28% | Activity: 79% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Humor](https://www.trendhunter.com/humor) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Humorous Advertising:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Businesses can leverage humor to create memorable and engaging advertisements that capture consumers' attention. - **Disguised Promotion:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Companies can employ creative tactics, such as disguising promotional material as something else, to intrigue and engage their target audience. - **Volunteer-based Initiatives:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Organizations can promote and encourage volunteerism by showcasing the impact and benefits of volunteering through compelling storytelling. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Advertising:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Advertising agencies can explore the use of humor as a persuasive tool to connect with consumers on an emotional level and differentiate themselves in the market. - **Nonprofit:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Nonprofit organizations can adopt creative promotional strategies to attract volunteers and increase awareness about their causes. - **Education:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Educational institutions can use humorous approaches to recruit and motivate teachers to work in areas experiencing a shortage of educators. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Satirical Destination Marketing Videos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/switzerland-is-fake.md) - [Accessible Customer Service Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accessible-customer-service.md) - [Humorous Educational Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-investment-fraud.md) - [Satirical Feminist-Forward Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/underpaid-women.md) - [Drug-Themed April Fool's Gags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innocean-berlin.md) - [Comedic Cruise Spots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/its-different-out-here.md) - [Humorous Automotive Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/where-have-you-been.md) - [Comedic Christmas Parodies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reinfell-ad.md) - [Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pure-rush-soap.md)