Campaign update!

I have graduated from Amani Institute in Kenya with a Social Innovation Management grad certificate! 

Healthy Art Project aims to launch and test teach #BOYZDOCRY the comic book. Updated campaign to come. 

GOAL: #BOYZDOCRY MURAL

10 000 - 20 000 KSH = 100-200 USD to paint HART Project's 1st artivist (art is our weapon!) mural in Kibera slum, Kenya. 5000 KSH for food / stipend for youths I will train to paint. We strongly believe in paying a living wage to youth living with struggles. Not all volunteers are paid equally.

Here we are in baridi sana, rainy-sana Nairobi! #bigsmiles #amani2016.

<3 Yours in work / play!

@kare4hart (Instagram)

MAT.ART.TU: a mobile art and community health van

I founded HART Project, a non-profit, to build healthier communities through art in 2012.

Who am I?

I am an artist / registered nurse who has 13+ years of healthcare experience. I strive to impact social change to build community and opportunities especially for youth. In 2015, I caught the international development bug when I volunteered for 2 months in Malawi, Africa at a hospital & a NGO that empowers people affected by HIV. After 3 years of running a non-profit, I am very aware of the need to develop my leadership & business skills to sustain projects rather than just dream them up!

Art is impact and voice in Kenya

Art quite simply is a universal language that transcends borders and differences. It links youth to "other things" from my experiences (Click here to see my vision). Kenyan girls who do not achieve basic literacy are at higher risk of becoming street-involved, HIV+, pregnant as a teen and less hopeful about their futures. I believe art creates the nature and nurture for healthier more creative communities. It may sound crazy, but perhaps a low-barrier mobile art van staffed with +mentors can bring +opportunities to girls who previously had few. If you like statistics on the status of women in Kenya, here are some from the United Nations.

Picture: Art connects youth to community

How will MAT.ART.TU happen?

My schooling will involve three phases that take place over 9 months: foundations, immersion and acceleration. During Acceleration, I will intern with a community partner in Kenya and will have 5 months to plan and make this project happen!

Phase 1 is developing my own knowledge (foundation) and planning the infrastructure needed. Once I land in Nairobi, I will begin to learn and network with the many partners Amani Institute has. I have already made contact with an artist who's practice focuses on matatu culture and a photojournalist who documents stories from the slum I want to work in. Like I have done in Vancouver, I will source local knowledge and form partnerships with like-minded organizations to have a greater impact.  

Empathy. Creativity. Peacebuilding. Accountability. will guide this project.

Phase 2: Acceleration will be implementing this pilot project over 5+ months. This will involve small art workshops with established partners such as school working in Kenya already. These building blocks will allow the girls to develop confidence, teamwork and creativity to paint a large mural on a van or a wall in their neighbourhood.

Where will the funds go?

I am hoping to raise at least $7000 to help with costs, with at least 30% portion going to arts programming. My plan is to publish a photo book after 1 year of the art van in operation, and to use the lessons learned to make the project better. I hope to build on this pilot project to sustain it over the next 3 years.

Phase 1: Knowledge & Planning

70% of the funds will support basic needs and tuition. I plan to live in productive frugality.

30% of funds will go towards project funds at this stage.

My Costs (all in USD):

Tuition x 9 months:                   $5600

Airfare (1 way) to Nairobi:        $1000

Health insurance x 9 months:  $1000

Estimated living expenses(food / rent each month): $150 + 400 = $500/mo = $4500

TOTAL: $12,100

Program startup costs for 4 months (estimates): $3,000

Art supplies to paint mural on van (paper, paint etc.) x 1 workshop = $1000

Salary for one local Kenyan art teacher x 2 days/week x 4 months (TBD)

Outreach health supplies = $500 + donations in kind

Phase 2: Plan, Source capital, talent & implement:

I plan to crowdsource again for the project once I am in Kenya and know exact supply costs with 80%+ of funds going directly to the project and 20% or less going to admin.

What are some of the risks?

The project may morph into something slightly different or take place over a longer timeline, but the key elements will remain: street art, mural painting and creating opportunity for slum-involved girls in Kenya. I am committed to dedicate the next 1-3 years to set the infrastructure in place to make this project sustainable. 

Asante sana (Thanks in Swahili) for your support! Please help this changemaker be more effective in creating healthier communities in Kenya.

Ways you can support this cause include:

• Share the campaign on social media with the  hashtag #HARTprojectkenya

• Share your ideas with me on how to make it successful: @HARTproject on Twitter or via email ihartvan@gmail.com

I really appreciate your support from the bottom of my artistic heart!