World Needs Challenge
2021 - 2022
Students deepened their understanding of some of the world’s greatest needs—and use it as a catalyst for action. Together, we raised $2,500,000 to support organizations helping support a range of pressing global needs. 1,921 teams of students created more pieces of art than ever before—more than 250,000 posters.
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.
Why the World Needs Challenge?
Motivation
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!
How to Participate
The ProcessLearn
Explore resources like lesson plans, art guides, and videos that help students explore who they are – their traits, experiences, and stories – and reflect on the shared humanity between individuals, cultures, and communities.
Create
Encourage students to express their vision for a more united world through their choice of literary, media, performing and visual arts, or STEM.
Share
Submit students’ creative works to Students Rebuild. Each submission or student engaged raises $5 to support organizations worldwide that foster connection and champion collaborative change, up to $1 million.
Get Started
New to Students Rebuild?
Quick Start GuideCheck out our Quick Start Guide, which walks you through how to participate step by step and lists all the resources available to you.
What's in it for you?
Aside from raising money through your creative works, every team or participant who submits artwork receives a downloadable Certificate of Participation. You can also request a detailed letter for service learning hours by emailing [email protected].
Mark your calendar!
All creative work must be submitted by June 4, 2022 11:59pm PDT. Ready to make a difference through creativity? Sign up or sign in today!
World Needs Challenge Progress
$2,500,000
raised of $2,500,000 goal
We’ve reached our donation goal!
253,627
creative expressions
Every creative work generated raises awareness of the importance of empowering youth and building bridges! Submit now!
41,277
youth engaged
Choose a Medium
Creativity has the power to change the world, and it’s something that all of us can do. Explore the 5 mediums you can use for your Students Rebuild project.
Literary Arts
Short stories, essays, and poetry.
Performing Arts
Dance, theater, and music.
Media Arts
PSAs, films, and videos.
Visual Arts
Graphic design, drawings, paintings, photography, and memes.
STEM
Robotics, digital design, and games.
See what students are creating around the world
Use this map to find other teams participating in the project — the pins show where teams created their works of creative expression. Click the icons to learn how the programs you helped fund are making a difference.
The programs your art helps fund
For each Students Rebuild annual Project, we partner with high-impact organizations working on the ground to help strengthen communities worldwide—many of them household names. The funds we donate transform student work into immediate, on-the-ground progress for carefully vetted programs that are evaluated according to the outcomes they produce. In addition to extending our reach and helping our funding make more of a difference, our partners also inform the resources we provide to teachers and students.