The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is sponsoring the 2006 Multimedia Youth Arts Contest, and students in grades seven through 12 in Catholic schools or religious education and youth ministry programs are eligible to participate.

The theme for this year’s contest is “Unlock Opportunities: End Poverty.” The contest gives young people an opportunity to integrate social justice themes into their experiences. Students examine the causes of poverty, look into possible solutions and express the theme in one of several media forms.

The three main media categories are visual arts, literature and audio-visual arts. Entries will be judged at the local level by the archdiocesan CCHD committee, and one entry will go on to the national level. Prizes will be awarded.

Each parish and school is limited to submitting three entries—one in each of the categories or any other combination of entries. The deadline for submissions for the 2006 contest is March 10.

Suggestions and lesson plans can be obtained from the CCHD Web site at www.povertyusa.org.

To obtain more information, details about the art contest or to receive additional materials call Sister Joyce Ann Hertzig, OP, coordinator of the Atlanta CCHD, at (404) 885-7208 . Interested callers should leave their name and complete address along with their request.

Those interested can also e-mail Sister Joyce Ann to receive electronic materials about CCHD at jhertzig@archatl.com.