Kristin
Andersson has been a Peace Corps volunteer with Juconi since 2004.
During the two years that I have been
here, I have worked primarily with four art clubs as part of the Charlotte
Miller Art Project. I met with four
groups of children (ages 9 to 17) once a week in four of the most
marginalized areas of the city. With
the children, I planned different projects to help them be able to reflect
on things important to them and express themselves and their ideas through
art as well as raise their self-esteem and ability to work in groups. Since I am not an artist, I tried to
focus more on the therapeutic benefits of self-expression rather than on
specific art techniques.
I also work with a group of community
leaders in Fertisa (a sector in the south of the city). With them, I help plan community
improvement projects and training on project planning and leadership
skills. I have also helped them
start a community bank, and at their invitation, became a member.
