From arts to action: Project SHINE as a case study of engaging youth in efforts to develop sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene strategies in rural Tanzania and India

Abstract

Arts-based methods are used increasingly in health promotion efforts-and particularly within community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches-in order to meaningfully engage, uncover, and amplify local voices to elicit social change. However, there are still important knowledge gaps to be addressed. In this chapter, we critically reflect on our experience in implementing a CBPR intervention called Project SHINE (Sanitation and Hygiene INnovation in Education). Project SHINE addresses water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges among youth and communities in rural Tanzania and India. In Tanzania, we describe our use of several arts-based methods to engage participants in dialogue. These methods include a sanitation mural, a time capsule incorporating reflective pieces and drawing, digital stories, and a sanitation science fair that included youth-driven knowledge translation strategies to reach the wider community in health promotion efforts. Project SHINE was subsequently adapted and implemented in rural India. During the adaptation process, a photovoice sub-study was implemented in order to increase knowledge and understanding of youth perspectives and engage them in a process of critical reflection and action to create social change in the community. Drawing upon our experiences from the field, we examine the opportunities and challenges associated with arts-based methods to catalyze action in health promotion research and practice. We conclude by highlighting important considerations for design and implementation of future studies using these approaches in other settings.