This was the main picture on my Indiegogo crowdfunder page : https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/art-for-global-health#/
The Project
After going to Laos and India and feeling helpless about the lack of clean drinking water and health and school facilities in various communities, I decided to do something about it. I was 18 when I started this first big project in 2012. Essentially, I sold artwork online to raise funds for three minority villages in Laos and three minority pre-schools in India. I came up with the idea when I realized that international students at Saint Johnsbury Academy, a semi-private high school, sometimes left their phenomenal artwork behind when they returned home each summer. My role was to get the moving pieces to this puzzle to move together.
I reached out to artists, had Skype meetings with community members I met during my time abroad, created a website for the artwork, and raised $5,000 in a crowdfunding project. I quickly realized that although I could raise money thanks to generous artist contributions, I was not the one best suited to determine what the needs of these communities were. For that reason, each community in Laos and India had a community council to decide where funds could best be implemented, from hunger, medical, and education initiatives.
I reached out to artists, had Skype meetings with community members I met during my time abroad, created a website for the artwork, and raised $5,000 in a crowdfunding project. I quickly realized that although I could raise money thanks to generous artist contributions, I was not the one best suited to determine what the needs of these communities were. For that reason, each community in Laos and India had a community council to decide where funds could best be implemented, from hunger, medical, and education initiatives.
India: Pre-Schools, Clinic, Smokeless Stoves
I partnered with Help-Kids-India to support initiatives that allow 3-5 year olds of the "untouchable caste" to attend pre-school. Members of the "untouchable caste" are unable to attend most primary and secondary schools unless they receive a baseline preschool education. Three pre-schools in Kodaikanal allow children to break out of the cycle of poverty, provide three meals per day, provide medical clinics for the children to go to, and install smokeless stoves in their homes. That's where the funds went for the India project.
I partnered with Help-Kids-India to support initiatives that allow 3-5 year olds of the "untouchable caste" to attend pre-school. Members of the "untouchable caste" are unable to attend most primary and secondary schools unless they receive a baseline preschool education. Three pre-schools in Kodaikanal allow children to break out of the cycle of poverty, provide three meals per day, provide medical clinics for the children to go to, and install smokeless stoves in their homes. That's where the funds went for the India project.
I took this photo during my time in Kodaikanal, India
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Laos: Village Committees
Village Committees were established in minority Khmu villages of Ban Boua, Ban Vieng Kham, and Hoify. With 6-10 representatives from diverse backgrounds, and an even number of males and females, various issues are discussed before the Committees decide how best funds can be used. The Board communicates with Committees to confirm that projects are worthwhile. |
I took these photos in Hoify, in the north of Laos
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The whole project lasted about two years. I used the opportunity of my high school senior Capstone project to really focus my attention on it. That allowed me to create speaking events (the Art for Global Health Summit was the kick-off) and promotional materials. I did research about the issues at hand and collaborated with artists all over the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont. I had never made a website before, so that was a learning curve, and so was the crowdfunding campaign I ran on Indiegogo. I had meetings with dozens of people about logistics, fundraising, and even graphic design.
When I went to University, the project ended, but the lessons I learned from the endeavor did not. I've since disbanded the website I worked so hard on, but then I created this one, which has let me express myself in ways the other one didn't. |
This was one of the first graphics I created for the project when I was running the crowdfunding campaign.
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Major takeaways
I learned that people are well-intentioned and interested in helping a cause they believe in, but sometimes don't know how to begin doing that. People like hearing stories, and when you can tell stories in a compelling way, they'll be more likely to engage with projects you're passionate about.
There is no shame in asking for help when you're unsure how to best go about with a project, and it's important to understand what your limitations are to be able to address them. And cross-cultural communication is rewarding.
There is no shame in asking for help when you're unsure how to best go about with a project, and it's important to understand what your limitations are to be able to address them. And cross-cultural communication is rewarding.
Personal Growth
Even though the $5,000 didn't do anything to reverse poverty, the project gave me an outlet to focus my frustrations about structural inequalities. The larger goal was to bring attention to India's "untouchable" caste and the problems in Laos, which, well, only happened to a degree. I naively thought this project would bring an end to suffering, which it did not. I learned that the political landscape holding inequalities in place is much more structurally sound than I had imagined. I learned that I had more to learn. That's why I pursued International Development in my undergrad. For projects of this nature, I learned to be patient for the groundwork to be set before jumping right in.
Although individuals might not be able to "change the world" themselves, they can act as intermediaries to bring solutions for temporary problems. I sometimes feel badly that I couldn't do more in the way of bringing about social change, but in the end the water wells and school supplies did have an impact, even if it was just for the people in the communities.
Although individuals might not be able to "change the world" themselves, they can act as intermediaries to bring solutions for temporary problems. I sometimes feel badly that I couldn't do more in the way of bringing about social change, but in the end the water wells and school supplies did have an impact, even if it was just for the people in the communities.
High schoolers can make pretty cool stuff
