Author: Grace Li
Heart Health Initiative is an organization focused on spreading heart health awareness. In this installment of the Student Spotlight Series, we interview Heart Health Initiative’s founder on motivations, programs, and future plans.
Q1. Please introduce yourself and the mission of Heart Health Initiative.
I’m a 15 year old student in Year 11, and I’ve always been passionate about biology, specifically interested in the heart. Heart Health Initiative (HHI)’s mission is to spread awareness about the heart by using educational and fun ways such as competitions, giving volunteer hours, collaborations, Instagram posts, etc.
Q2. Your organization emphasizes “heart awareness & healthier habits”, alongside creativity and community involvement: how do you balance educational heart health information with creative youth engagement initiatives?
At HHI, we combine clear, evidence-based heart health education with creative youth engagement. We turn scientific information into relatable content, like quizzes, infographics, and campaigns. So it’s easier to understand and remember.
By involving students in creating and leading initiatives, heart awareness becomes both educational and empowering.
Q3. How did the idea of combining art and heart health education originate, especially with initiatives such as the Heart 2 Heart Art Competition, and what outcomes have you seen from these creative projects?
The idea came from recognizing that young people connect more deeply when they can express what they learn. Instead of only sharing facts, we created initiatives like the Heart 2 Heart Art Competition to let students explore heart health through creativity.
Q4. In your recent social media post dedicated to Faustin Adeniran and the HeART of Healing Arts Initiative, you describe artistic expression as part of healing: how do you select featured artists, and what themes or messages are you hoping their work promotes about heart health?
We feature artists whose work reflects healing, resilience, and community impact , aligning with HHI’s mission of prevention and awareness.
Through their art, we aim to promote messages about emotional well-being, strength, and the link between mental and heart health, showing that healing is both physical and expressive.
Q5. As a youth-led initiative, what insights have you gained about engaging peers on heart health topics that might differ from traditional medical organizations?
As a youth-led initiative, we’ve learned that peers respond best to conversations that feel relatable rather than clinical. Instead of formal medical messaging, we focus on real-life habits : stress, sleep, nutrition, and daily choices, presented in clear and engaging ways.
Being youth-led allows us to speak the same language as our audience, making heart health feel relevant, approachable, and part of everyday life rather than a distant medical issue.
Q6. Looking ahead, what’s a project or theme you haven’t tackled yet (but hope to soon), and how does it tie into both heart health education and creative engagement?
We have a lot of projects in mind like connecting with hospitals in order to show support with those who have heart issues and see how people go through those phases in real life, other projects would be: creating website for HHI, more competitions with prizes/honors, digital art opportunities, and more!
These connect to both heart health education and creative engagement as it approaches youth in a more positive and fun way to learn about the heart as well as share their experience/knowledge.
Thank you to Heart Health Initiative for joining us in this interview! Please find their work here: linktr.ee/hearthealthinitiative25
The Megaphone 