How it works
Make global citizens. And art.
Our Unique Model
Holistic learning. For an hour, a semester, or a year.
Art as a means for change.
When students make art for someone else, they’re all in—mind, body, and spirit. And art equals action—it’s something everyone, everywhere can do.
Designed for busy teachers.
Students Rebuild projects can be scaled from a single class to a full year. We provide the free resources to help you teach within whatever time and space you have.
Touching lives globally.
Funds generated through Students Rebuild support on-the-ground programs by trusted NGOs like CARE, Save the Children, The Nature Conservancy, charity: water, and others.
Past Challenges
Each student's contribution adds up to impact.
2020: Hunger Challenge
Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition
Tens of millions of children around the world go to bed hungry or malnourished each night—but students from around the world changed that. Through the Hunger Challenge, students were able to mobilize $2.3 million for programs fighting hunger. Learn more below.
2019: Ocean Challenge
Ocean conservation
The world’s ocean and the people who live closest to it face urgent environmental challenges—but the actions of young people made a collective wave of support. Students made over 250,000 sea creatures which were each matched with a donation from the Bezos Family Foundation. In total, $500,000 was donated to ocean conservation and programs training coastal youth in ocean conservation.
2018: Facing Difference Challenge
Engaging Difference
We invited students to create self-portraits and use them as a springboard for exploring the ways differences keep us apart—and how they can be overcome. The art that poured in generated $600,000 for peace-building programs in Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and the South Caucasus.
2017: Youth Uplift Challenge
Youth Empowerment
Over 115,000 students in 28 countries made 250,000+ hands for the Youth Uplift Challenge! For every hand you made and sent in, the Bezos Family Foundation donated $1.90—up to $500,000—to Save the Children’s programs empowering youth in Nicaragua and Indonesia to rise into a life they dream for themselves.
2016: Healing Classrooms Challenge
Syrian Refugee Crisis
Teams from around the world made over 200,000 paper pinwheels! The Bezos Family Foundation matched each pinwheel with $2 for a total donation of $400,000 to support the International Rescue Committee's Healing Classrooms programs in Iraq and Lebanon.
2015: Literacy Challenge
Access to Literacy Programs
Students Rebuild partnered with Save the Children and Global Nomads Group to improve youth reading and writing skills around the world. For each bookmark we received, the Bezos Family Foundation donated $1—raising $300,000 in total—for Save the Children’s Literacy Boost program in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
2014: Water Challenge
Clean Water
In partnership with charity: water and Global Nomads Group, Students Rebuild brought clean, safe drinking water to those who need it most. For every 20 handmade beads made by students, one person received access to clean water thanks to matching funds from the Bezos Family Foundation.
2013: Typhoon Haiyan Challenge
Typhoon Recovery
We partnered with Save the Children to support Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines. Students wrote thousands of letters that were matched with funds by the Bezos Family Foundation. Save the Children used these funds to provide students with temporary learning spaces, educational materials, and more.
Who are we
A Program of the Bezos Family Foundation.
Where the Art Goes
Each Challenge ends with a powerful culminating exhibit.
See art culmination
Check out this great article from Chicago’s local PBS about our Students Rebuild Ocean Challenge art exhibit at Shedd Aquarium.
Over 1,000 unique pieces of art were used in our Ocean Challenge art exhibit at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago!
From bubble wrap octopi to compact disc sea turtles, recycled bottle fish to eggcrate clams and painted paper clownfish - students around the world made awesome art!
Many classrooms and groups are creating large ocean displays. This one is from Sea Saviors team of the 1st College Heights Girls Guides of Canada. Their team has submitted 38 creatures so far and raised $76!