2022: World Needs Challenge

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Addressing five of the world’s most pressing issues

Together, we raised $2,500,000 to support organizations tackling some of the world's greatest needs. 1,921 teams of students created more pieces of art than ever before—more than 250,000 posters.

How it Works

From understanding to action in 1-2-3.

We invited students to deepen their understanding of some of the world’s greatest needs—and use it as a catalyst for action—by taking three simple-but-powerful steps:

1. Register, set, go.

First, register—it’s both easy and required. Then, jump into our resources and join teachers and students worldwide in this year’s Challenge.

2. Art up!

Students can choose one of five causes to support. Next, students learn more about their issue and find inspiration for their art. We provide free lessons and content, or you can use your own. When ready, submit your art online.

3. Make a Change!

For each piece of art we receive, the Bezos Family Foundation will make a $5 donation—up to $1.6 million—to organizations addressing some of our world’s biggest needs.

Get Started

Get Started with the World Needs Challenge

To jump into action, use our Leader Guide, Art Making Guide and watch our short introduction video, all posted below. Explore additional learning materials on our Resources page. All are flexible enough for any setting and designed to maximize student engagement while minimizing prep time. Many meet national standards. And all are free of charge.

View more resources

Team Leader Guide

Making Art Guide

About the World Needs Challenge (video)

Why world needs?

Our Big Five

After moving through a worldwide pandemic beginning in 2020, each of the following needs surfaced as more relevant and resonant than ever: clean oceans, humanitarian aid for refugees, hunger relief, overcoming bias and arts activism. In order to address all of these critical issues and more facing the world today, what the world needs most is...YOU!

Students select the issues that matter most.

Students learn about and choose a world need they are inspired to help. Next, they create art to amplify the cause — be it a poster, button or pennant — to illustrate why it’s important and to raise awareness for the issue. For every artwork we receive between now and June 3, 2022, a donation of $10 (up to $2,500,000) will go to programs working to alleviate needs around the globe.

How the money will help.

Funding students generate will support multiple organizations and programs, including The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to address rising ocean climate; No Kid Hungry’s global hunger relief work; International Rescue Committee’s human rights work serving refugees; CARE USA and The King Center’s education efforts towards peacemaking and anti-racism; and Creative Reaction Lab’s programs to put art into action. Altogether, the World Needs Challenge will help make a difference for more than one million young people worldwide.

May = Doubles Month!

Starting May 1, 2022, Students Rebuild is launching our annual Double Donation campaign. This month-long campaign gives our artivists the chance to double the art, double the donations, and double the impact students make for the 2022 Challenge.

DOUBLE THE DONATIONS: For every piece of artwork we receive between now and May 31st, the Bezos Family Foundation is doubling its donation to our World Needs Challenge partners! That means for every piece of artwork submitted, $10 instead of $5 will go to tackling five global issues.

Help us reach our goal of $2.5 million for the five global issues we are taking on through the World Needs Challenge!

Interactive Map

Join a global community of caring.

Students from all over the globe are taking the World Needs Challenge, and new ones are joining the effort all the time. Register to be added to the map, then check back to discover the location of new teams as they join. Click the icons to learn how the programs you’re funding are making a difference.

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Updates

World Needs Challenge Updates

Meet our partners, read inspiring notes, and see creative artwork from teachers and students around the world.

We raised $2,500,000 to support organizations tackling some of the world's greatest needs.

Starting May 1, 2022, Students Rebuild is launching our annual Double Donation campaign!

Congrats to the April Team of the Month Team Rio 1st & 2nd from Las Vegas, New Mexico's Rio Gallinas School of the Arts and Ecology. Check out their inspiring art on food deserts.

March’s Teacher Tip is from Keyla Johnson at Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy in Albany, GA. Take it away!

Learn more about World Needs Challenge partner CARE!

February’s Teacher Tip is from Lori Huntsman from Spreckels Elementary in San Diego. Take it away, Lori!

This month’s award goes to the Roots&Shoots team from Forest Grove, OR. This champion team has been participating in Challenges since 2014! Check out their awesome art for inspiration.

Learn more about World Needs Challenge partner No Kid Hungry.

Each month, we showcase a team participating in the World Needs Challenge. For January, we’re shining a light on the Spreckels Wildcats team from San Diego, CA. Check out their awesome MLK-inspired art.

January’s Teacher Tip is from Nadina Carmen Nicolici from Lorin Salagean Technical High School in Drobeta Turnu Severin, Romania! Take it away, Nadina.

Learn more about World Needs Challenge partner The King Center.

Each month, we’re celebrating teams participating in the World Needs Challenge from around the globe. For December, we’re shouting out the Students Who Care team from Oberlin Elementary School in Oberlin, Ohio!

This year, we're inviting educators to share creative and practical ways to implement Students Rebuild in the classroom. This month we’re featuring Cynthia Cullen from Half Hollow Hills Central School District from Dix Hills, New York. Take it away, Cynthia!

November's team is Don Bosco School in Hyderabad, Telangana, India!

This year, we're inviting educators to share creative and practical ways to implement Students Rebuild in the classroom. This month we’re featuring Mira Septimus from LV Moore Middle School in Roselle, New Jersey. Take it away, Mira!

Meet World Needs Challenge partner International Rescue Committee!

Congratulations to October Team of the Month Cheltenham Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) team from Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania!

This year, we're inviting educators to share creative and practical ways to implement Students Rebuild in the classroom. First up is Linda Ann Wrins-Ryan from Louisville, Kentucky. Take it away, Linda Ann!

Meet World Needs Challenge partner, Global Nomads Group!

Want a behind the scenes look of the young people who worked with #WorldNeedsChallenge partner Global Nomads Group to create our resource videos?

This year, we’re inviting students from around the world to join us in a choose-your-own-adventure-style Challenge tackling five big issues to support some of the greatest needs in our global community.

Watch the World Needs Challenge launch video!

Create art to amplify the cause — be it a poster, button or pennant — to illustrate why it’s important and to raise awareness for the issue. For every artwork we receive between now and June 3, 2022, a donation of $5 (up to $2,500,000) will go to programs working to alleviate needs around the globe.

Teachers, share how you're using the Students Rebuild Challenge with your class.