Youth Arts for Humanity
The Brushes Project
Where Toothbrush Meets Paintbrush
At Youth Arts for Humanity, we believe true well-being comes from caring for both the body and the soul. That’s why we created the Brushes Project, a collaborative initiative with our affiliate nonprofit, Dentists for Humanity, which leads international dental mission trips to underserved communities.
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While volunteer dentists deliver critical treatment, our team sets up portable art stations in the waiting areas to engage patients — especially children — as they await care. These creative activities help ease fear, encourage emotional expression, and build positive associations with health services, transforming anxiety into trust and connection.
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The name “Brushes” carries special meaning: the toothbrush represents physical care, while the paintbrush symbolizes emotional healing and creative expression. Together, they reflect our belief in holistic care.
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Launching In Paraguay
April 2025
The Brushes Project is officially launching in Paraguay this June in partnership with Dentists for Humanity. As volunteer dentists provide essential care to underserved communities, our team will be setting up portable art stations to spark creativity and calm for children, youth, and families.
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From watercolor painting and drawing to coloring and more, these art activities will help transform waiting rooms into spaces of joy and connection. Whether they are waiting for treatment, accompanying parents, or simply coming to join in, we hope the children will experience the healing power of creativity.
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A huge thank you to BLICK Art Materials for providing art supplies and to Come and Change Foundation for sponsoring this life-changing initiative.
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Follow along as we bring art and smiles to Paraguay!
Paraguay Trip Recap
A Heartfelt Success
July 2025
Paraguay, you stole our hearts!!💛🎨
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Our very first Brushes Project was an incredible success! Over 5 days, we visited five different towns, bringing art and creativity to more than 100 children and youth alongside Dentists for Humanity’s life-changing dental mission.
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Some children came specifically for the art activities, eager to explore and create. Others joined in while waiting for their own dental treatments, and many participated as they accompanied their parents receiving care.
For many, it was their first-ever experience with watercolor painting — and their excitement was contagious! Several kids created more than 10 artworks each, so deeply immersed and joyful they didn’t want to stop.
We were especially moved when some young artists gifted us their favorite pieces to display at our upcoming annual charity exhibition — a true reflection of their generosity and spirit.
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With such a warm welcome and heartfelt requests from the community, we are already planning to return to Paraguay next year — and hopefully for years to come.
After an incredible debut in Paraguay, where the Brushes Project transformed mobile clinic spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity and comfort for hundreds of children and families, Youth Arts For Humanity is thrilled to announce our return in 2026.
This year, we witnessed the profound impact of combining art and care—inspiring joy, easing anxiety, and building trust within the community.
Fueled by this success, our team is already planning an even more robust and thoughtfully designed program for next year, with expanded art activities and deeper community engagement.
We can’t wait to bring even more color, connection, and well-being to Paraguay in 2026, and to continue making a difference—one brushstroke at a time.​​