Anyone who has received a hand-drawn picture from a young child knows that it really is worth a thousand words.
But a new art project — managed by Students Rebuild, a project of Creative Visions — actually turns those artworks into real money for people in need.
Students Rebuild is a global program that encourages students in classrooms around the world to create something — a song, dance, poem, digital design, or a STEM build — specific to a certain theme.
From there, students can submit their works to the organization, and every submission unlocks a $5 donation — up to $1 million.
A student submission for this year’s “Unique and United” program. Photo courtesy of Students Rebuild
The donations are then distributed to “frontline organizations building belonging.”
This year, the program’s theme is “Unique and United,” which aims to explore identities and differences through creative expression in an effort to build empathy and unity.
The organizations supported with this year’s campaign include:
- Choose Love reaches children and young people living through conflict and war in Ukraine and Greece
- WelcomingAmerica builds and strengthens leadership in rural and under-resourced communities, shifting how neighbors talk about immigration, belonging, and democracy
- Narrative 4 grows its story-exchange model in Kenya, expanding to new schools and facilitators and helping young people tell nuanced African stories through art and shared experiences
- Homeboy Art Academy provides free, culturally competent, trauma-informed arts education for formerly gang-involved or incarcerated youth and adults in Los Angeles
Aside from the tangible impact on immigrant, refugee, and other marginalized communities, the Unique and United project teaches young people that their “bold ideas” are “capable of making a positive impact on our communities and the world,” Students Rebuild explained.
“The world can feel overwhelming for a lot of young people right now, but creating is one of the most powerful ways to change that. When students create something and share it with us through our “Unique and United” project, they’re becoming philanthropists with the resources they already have: their ideas and their voices,” Sarah Fanslau, the director of program impact and evaluation at Creative Visions, told Good Good Good.
Students work on their projects in class. Photo courtesy of Students Rebuild
“Because we’re completely removing the financial barrier to giving, we’re proving that change doesn’t have to just belong to the wealthy or the powerful,” she added. “Seeing young people discover how they can make a difference right now is extraordinary, and something I never get tired of.”
Typically, teachers and librarians facilitate the program for a team of students, and Students Rebuild provides resources like lesson plans, art guides, and videos to help them along.
According to the organization, these materials help students “explore who they are,” by learning about traits, experiences, and stories. Then, they are encouraged to “reflect on the shared humanity” between individuals, cultures, and communities.
As of the publication of this article, $768,205 has been raised of the program’s $1 million goal, with over 66,000 students creating more than 55,000 “creative expressions.”
Students in a fifth grade class create a puzzle filled with “messages from hope” a year after the Eaton fires in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Students Rebuild
Cheryl Rizzo, a librarian and ambassador for Students Rebuild, said this program is a big reason why she is still working in education, after considering a change in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This program reminded me why I do this work. Now, as a librarian, I get to watch it ripple across our whole school. Teachers are on board, and kids are pitching their own ideas. It’s totally changed the culture,” Rizzo, who is based in Queens, New York, said. “This year alone, our students raised over $24,000 with their creative projects.”
Rizzo’s 15-year-old daughter, Brianna, was actually the one who introduced her mom to the program about four years ago.
“I found out about Students Rebuild on Instagram when I was 11 and immediately brought it to [the] student council because I just knew other kids needed this,” Brianna said.
She later brought the program into her high school and now supports other groups who want to get involved.
Students created beaded keychains for their submission into this year’s project. Photo courtesy of Students Rebuild
“I know firsthand how good it feels when young people realize we can make a difference just by being creative,” she added.
For those who want to participate in “Unique and United,” there’s still time. Students Rebuild is accepting submissions until June 1, 2026.
To get involved, people just have to make an account on the Students Rebuild website and start thinking about their medium. Submissions can include literary, performing, media, or visual arts, or STEM creations.
“Through this project and the conversations they start, I’ve gotten to watch students wake up to the idea that they belong to something larger than their corner of the world,” Cheryl Rizzo said.
“Imagine the world we’d live in if everyone was having these types of conversations.”
You may also like: High school students build tiny houses for homeless neighbors in construction class
Header image courtesy of Students Rebuild
