Climate Action Belize Project #17832

Protect Unique Ecosystems in the Gulf of Honduras

by Creative Action Institute

Project Report | Jul 5, 2016
Coming to the End of an Incredible Journey

By Julia DOrazio | Development & Communications Manager

FUNDAECO Mural

It's hard to believe that after two years, our Creative Conservation Project in Belize and Guatemala is nearing towards the end. All this collaboration, inspiration and discovery would not have been possible without you. We're proud to share all that is happening as the Spring becomes Summer.

Creative action projects with our conservation partners continue apace, here are the latest and greatest happenings from the field!

TIDE Reef Guardians Program. Field Artists Min Lee, Isa Carrio and Annalisa Sevaly facilitated seven clinics with three different primary schools in Punta Gorda, Belize as part of TIDE's Reef Guardians Pilot Program, collaborating with teachers during their science and social studies lessons to improve standards in coral reef education and bring threats to the Belize Barrier Reef into public awareness.

Mural Painting with FUNDAECO. Min and Isa worked with 5 schools to paint four walls in Livingston, Guatemala as a part of the town’s Earth Day celebration to raise consciousness about environmental issues. About 150 school children gathered for the completion celebration. The proud lead artists of each mural were presented certificates in recognition of their work. WATCH: Time lapsed video of mural creation.

Ocean Day Performance with FUNDAECO. FUNDAECO brought together twelve high school students from INGB Augusto Blanco Rubio School and INEB Creek Chino School to perform a play for the community to commemorate the annual Ocean Day. Annalisa Sevaly directed La Importancia de King Fish y Las Zonas de Restauración Pesquera (or The Importance of King Fish and Fishing Zones), a play previously written by FUNDAECO staff, who were very excited about the prospect of a performance by the local youth.

Photography Workshop and Exhibit with FUNDAECO. Min and Isa lead a workshop on the basics of photography in Livingston, Guatemala with the theme “My Beautiful Cocoli Bay." Participants built awareness about garbage, pollution and the appropriate management of natural resources in their communities and the Cocoli Bay. An exhibit with selected photos was shown at the Garifuna Cultural Center in conjunction with the Ocean Day play performance.

GOH Open Source Curriculum. CAI Field Artists are working with Education & Training Director Aryeh Shell in the creation of instruction guides and case studies for 25 creative activities and over 30 field applications addressing issues such as climate change, sustainable fishing, alternative livelihoods, pollution, species protection, and reef preservation. The Gulf of Honduras Open Source Cirriculum, developed based on this multi-year project, is now in the process of going online on our website (creativeactioninstitute.org) and produced as printed handbooks for our collaborating partners, as well as the larger public, to have as a resource for generations to come.

"Transforming Communities," the crowning celebration of the Gulf of Honduras Creative Conservation project, will take place August 11 & 12 at the Mexican Embassy in Belize City, Belize. A photography exhibit featuring all our partners have accomplished will be accompanied by a screening of our special video about the project and final training event with all partner organizations.

On behalf of our team, the partners we work work with, and the communities they serve, we express our thanks for your support of this project! To continue your support of Creative Action Institute and the work we do, click here to arrange your contributions. We will also be in touch very soon with the next project in need of support from all of you in the GlobalGiving community!

Young student at work.

Annalisa with performers & Griselda from FUNDAECO

A photo student homes in on his subject.

Photo class on Cocoli Bay

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Mar 29, 2016
Celebrating Marine Conservation in Belize

By Julia D'Orazio | Development & Communications Manager

St. Peter students reflect on coral bleaching.

Throughout February and March, Belize is vibrant with community-wide conservation themed activities to educate, inspire and provide a platform for dialogue around the pressing issue of protecting marine ecosystems and those who call it home, such as the Hicatee turtle, manatees, fish and coral reef systems.

Our field artists were on hand to assist partner NGO's with their community projects - including an illustration workshop, educational signage and interactive installations, an endangered species parade, conservation themed plays, and more.

Projects are still happening, but here are some highlights!

St. Peter Claver Primary School: Telling Stories Through Illustration
Field Artists: Min Lee and Annalisa Seavey

Field Artist Min Lee taught the students how to use a three panel storyboard format as a three-act storyline. The children applied what they learned to teach the importance of Hicatee turtle nesting site protection with their own illustrations. Annalisa Seavey guided the children in full body expressions of empathy for struggling turtles and thriving turtles.

Students not only gain understanding of an important conservation lesson - they also learned the basic concepts of set up, conflict and resolution to creatively tell a story, while connecting to wildlife with their entire beings.

WATCH: Students present their illustrated storyboard about protecting Hicatee nesting sites.

St Peter Claver School: Reef Guardian Project
Partner: TIDE

Marine Life Theater

By getting their bodies and minds active, students learned about of the four stages of the fish life cycle and created theater skits exploring best fishing and coral protection practices. After creating their props, costumes, and a short script, the students took turns performing for the class. Each performance served as a platform for discussion relating to the conservation message presented.

Coral Bleaching Reflection

Students wrote and drew reflections of their thoughts, questions and feelings relating to coral bleaching, the effect of pollution on coral, and healthy coral and fish - sharing their ideas and learning more about reef ecosystems.

Signage and interactive installations: SEA
Field Artists: Min Lee, Adriana Guzeman

In March, four talented artists and our partners at Southern Environmental Association (SEA), set out to create interactive educational conservation installations for the remote Laughing Bird and Silk Cayes of Belize.

For Laughing Caye, a manatee seesaw along with an Angelfish and Hawksbill turtle invite kids to play. In place of the dull and faded government signs, visitors will now also be greeted with an engaging welcome, a giant storybook, and signage that educations about conservation in a direct and vibrant way.

The much smaller Silk Caye boasts only one restroom as its sole structure - which is now transformed by a colorful mural featuring local fauna such as the nurse shark, hawksbill turtle, and barracuda along with a photo "cut-out" and an inviting welcome sign advising visitors to "take only photographs, leave only footprints."

After their intensive period of hands on training with our field artists, community groups, schools and organizations are successfully carrying out their own environmental projects - inspired by the the success they experience from their first arts-based campaign. All of this inspiration, creativity and learning traces back to you - our friends and supporters...thank you!

New educational signage for Laughing Caye

A student storyboard about Hicatee nesting.

Rehearsing a play

Students show a fish life cycle with their bodies

New educational signage for Laughing Caye

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Dec 1, 2015
Join the Giving Tuesday Recurring Match Campaign!

By Julia D'Orazio | Development & Communications Manager

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