CARE is a leading humanitarian and development organization that seeks to reduce poverty worldwide. Due to the close link between health and environment, CARE Honduras works to increase sustainable potable water and sanitation facilities, improve hygiene and environmental education, and protect micro-watersheds. However, limited youth involvement restricts the sustainability of the project.

As a result, CARE sought ArtCorps’ expertise in cultivating youth leaders who will continue to be environmental stewards and promote healthy behaviors after the project comes to a close. Using art-based projects, ArtCorps will engage and educate youth in topics related to health, protecting water sources and the environment while building confidence, self-esteem and leadership. In addition, ArtCorps will increase the capacity of CARE staff to use creative facilitation techniques, which they can apply to their work throughout Honduras.

Water, health and the environment are all closely linked in Honduras, where access to clean water is limited, health problems related to unclean water persist – 80% of illnesses in Honduras can be traced back to unclean water - and environmental education needs to be strengthened. Youth are critical to a healthier future and planet, but in Honduras youth have not historically been leaders in health and environmental initiatives.

2011: Allison Havens is a visual artist from the United States. For the past few years she has worked in Chicago as a freelance mural and collage artist. She also worked as an art teacher at an international youth camp for youth from the US, Iraq and other countries. At the camp, Allison fostered cultural understanding through art. At CARE she will continue to use creativity to cultivate leadership among youth.

• Club de Arte: With a group of 15 high school students from the community of Masica, Allison will form an art club that meets for two hours after school each week. These students will gain self-confidence, the ability to work in a team, creative thinking skills and leadership, through a series of creative workshops that transfers artistic skills and engages students in local environmental and health issues such as clean water. The final product will be a public mural that communicates important information on health or the environment.
• Recycle-Art: Empty plastic bottles and bottle-tops are seen everywhere in Atlántida. Through this project, these items will not just be seen as trash littering the streets but as materials for public artwork.  Allison will work with teachers and students to collect plastic bottles which will be turned into trashcans and plastic bottle tops which will be turned into a public mosaic.