Hope in the Shadows

An exhibition in support of education and youth empowerment in Honduras

– Rita Andrade –

“Artists can have a very important role in the world. Art tells the stories of the voiceless in various shapes and forms, allowing us to truly connect in a spirit of understanding.”

– Rita Andrade

THE EXHIBITION

Hope in the Shadows

In “Hope in the Shadows,” painter and activist Rita Andrade explores the deep-rooted social issues that young people face in Honduras, and the hopes that keep the country’s youth moving forwards.

All funds raised through the sale of the paintings will be donated to the grassroots Honduran NGO educate., who work to provide educational opportunities to underprivileged children and young people in Honduras.

The exhibition therefore aims not only to raise awareness, but to support tangible change in the lives of Honduran youth.

THE ARTIST

Rita Andrade

Rita Andrade was born in 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal and has been an artist since she can remember. After finishing her painting degree at Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade de Lisboa in 2020, she began to focus on transformative art, addressing political issues and human rights violations. She held her first exhibition in 2021 in support of human rights for Palestinians, based on a trip she took to the country in 2019.

As a student at Goldsmiths University of London where she completed a Masters degree in Art and Politics, Rita chose to focus her dissertation project on Honduras. In June 2022 she traveled to the country to meet with local NGOs, activists and journalists and to speak to young people who are directly affected by the numerous social issues that plague the country, from poverty to violence. This exhibition is the culmination of this project.

Follow Rita on Instagram

THE CAUSE

educate.

Grassroots nonprofit organization educate. has been a key local partner in the setup and organization of this project. educate. works to empower young people in Honduras through community-driven educational initiatives. Alongside their scholarship programme for high-potential youth in the rural department of Santa Bárbara to pursue high school and university education, they work alongside communities to start libraries and spaces of community engagement.

Honduras has the highest rate of economic inequality in Latin America, and over 60% of the population live in poverty. Only half of all students carry on their education past 6th grade, and the prospect of university is off the cards for most of the country’s youth. Without opportunities to study, young people are disproportionately affected by the country’s debilitating poverty, overwhelming violence and systematic inequality.

In a country deeply affected by political and social crises, educate. believes in the power of young people to drive long-lasting change in their communities.

All the funds raised through the sale of these paintings will go directly towards educate.’s work on the ground in Honduras.

Find out more at www-educate-ngo.com

Donate to educate.

The Paintings

“End of the day” – Acrylic on canvas – 90cm x 160cm – 2022
“Carrying bags” – Acrylic on canvas – 90cm x 150cm – 2022
“Souls line” – Oil pastels and acrylic on canvas – 110cm x 80cm – 2022
The Little Boys – Oil pastels and acrylic on canvas – 90cm x 140cm – 2022
“Never stop learning” – collages and acrylic on canvas – 70cm x 105cm – 2022
“Children at the beach” – Acrylic on canvas – 80cm x 107cm – 2022
No title – A5 – Watercolour on paper – 2022
No title – A5 – Watercolour on paper – 2022
No title – A5 – Watercolour on paper – 2022
No title – A5 – Watercolour on paper – 2022
No title – A5 – Watercolour on paper – 2022
No title – A5 – Watercolour on paper – 2022

If you are interested in purchasing a painting, write to us at educate.ngo@gmail.com

We accept payments via bank transfer to accounts in Honduras, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, as well as via PayPal, or via credit card through the button below:

Buy a painting

“As an activist artist, it is my duty to work in collaboration with people who are part of the struggle that I am addressing in my work. […] I hope that more and more artists think about collaborating with grassroots NGOs because we have something that is unique – our art – and we can spread important messages through it.”
– Rita Andrade