Think Creative Fall 2024

Think Creative by Creative Associates International

Letter from Leland Kruvant President & CEO Creative Associates International

CREATIVE SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Founder & Board Chair Charito Kruvant

President & CEO Leland Kruvant

Executive VP & Chief Innovation Officer Pablo Maldonado

In this issue of Think Creative , we profile six other youths who took the initiative to raise their voices, get involved and act on behalf of a larger community. Their stories underscore that investing in youth, nurturing their talents and providing platforms for them to lead will build brighter futures and ensure sustainable development for the next generation. Supporting youth and their locally led solutions are among Creative’s development priorities.

Six weeks after Guatemala’s new president took the oath of office in late January 2024, nearly 100 youth mobilized to debate their priorities for the new administration. During two days of discussions among themselves organized by the USAID Tejiendo Paz program, the youth decided on a list that included violence prevention, advocacy, employment, education and more. On the third day, the youth eloquently outlined their pressing needs and proposed solutions before an attentive audience that included Vice Ministers from the Ministries of Education, Labor, Culture and Health, as well as representatives from Congress, the

National Youth Council and the Municipality of Guatemala City. This is an example of youth-led advocacy at its best. In April, I was honored to meet one of the March forum participants — an activist named Katherine Ovalle Morales associated with the Centre for Research on the Prevention of Violence in Central America and the Landivarianxs Collective — who was invited by Creative to speak at the SID US annual conference. The 22-year-old explained that the March forum was a whirlwind opportunity that allowed her to feel seen and heard. Learn more about Katherine’s story by visiting our YouTube channel.

Chief Programs Officer Noy Villalobos

SVP, Business Development Sharon Cooley

Chief Financial Officer Mark Miebach

VP, External Relations Jessica Kruvant

VP, Education Patricia Tibbetts

VP, Economic Growth Eileen Hoffman

Sincerely,

VP, Communities in Transition Sharon Van Pelt

VP, Financial Analysis Urvashi Vyas

VP, Global Human Resources Ingrid Fitzgerald

20 Feature Stories

EDITORIAL STAFF

Senior Director, Communications Michael J. Zamba

20 // The Flow of Good Governance: Citizens improve water access with Syria’s FURAT III program 22 // Climate Smart: Innovative agricultural practices address climate challenges in West Africas

The Flow of Good Governance

Art Direction Amanda Smallwood

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Communications Manager Marta S. Maldonado

Senior Strategic Content Manager Ashley Williams

25 Creative Life A mission-driven community

Writer & Editor Pariesa Brody

26 // Creative Appoints New Vice President of Education for Development Division: Patricia Tibbetts 27 // Creative’s Summer Interns Bridge Academics and Impact 28 // Youth Leading the Way and Transforming Tomorrow 30 // Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Inside Creative’s Early Career Employee Resource Group, CrECER

Think Creative is published three times a year by Creative Associates International, a global development organization dedicated to supporting people around the world to realize the positive change they seek. The content is produced by Creative and does not represent the policies or positions of its clients, partners or host governments. Reproduction of any or all of Think Creative is prohibited without prior written permission. Copyright ©2024.

Climate Smart

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26 p. Meet Tricia!

For more information about Think Creative , please email us at ThinkCreative@CreativeDC.com

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Photos by Skip Brown (Leland Kruvant, Patricia Tibbets), FURAT III (The Flow of Good Governance) and Jim Huylebroek (Climate Smart)

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