One Million Bones Challenge
Students Rebuild joined the One Million Bones project, CARE and Global Nomads Group to create 1,000,000 handmade bones as a visible petition against humanitarian crises. The Bezos Family Foundation matched student efforts with a donation of $500,000 to CARE’s work in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Get Your Students Engaged
Violence and mass atrocities are happening today, but often go unnoticed and ignored.
In some parts of the world like Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Burma, mass violence and even mass killings are far too common. Because this issue is so horrifying and hard to comprehend, and hard to talk about with children, it doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
When students around the world stepped up to raise awareness about genocide, many didn’t know that disease and starvation can be some of the biggest killers. Our teams learned that the dangerous reality for many people in conflict zones is a life without medical attention, food, potable water, and access to education.
Conflict is more than violence.
The One Million Bones Challenge mobilized students worldwide to make clay and paper mache bones as symbols of solidarity with victims and survivors of ongoing conflict. Students who created bones learned that genocide and mass atrocities are ongoing, and their compassion and artwork helped raise greater awareness around the world. Together our teams created 1 million bones, generating a $500,000 donation from the Bezos Family Foundation.
1 million bones and a generation of young people committed to making a difference.
Students worked to help create 1,000,000 bones that demonstrated solidarity against the conflict in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On June 8, 2013, 1,000,000 bones were placed on the National Mall to raise awareness of the issues in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
How It Works
Students Rebuild empowers young people ages 5-25 to take direct action and see firsthand how they
can make a difference. The project is adaptable and can be scaled from a single lesson to a full year. We
provide free resources to help you teach within whatever time and space you have.
1. Sign Up
Educators or youth leaders sign up their group or class for the project.
2. Explore
Use our free resources to teach students about the issue.
3. Create
Select a creative medium – visual art, writing, performance, digital media, or STEM – and have students express their ideas, thoughts, and solutions.
4. Share
Submit students’ work. Each creative work or student engaged unlocks a $5 donation to global charities, up to $1M.
5. Impact
Creative submissions help raise funds for local and global solutions.
Types Of Creative Work Accepted
Literary Arts (Short stories, essays, and poetry), Performing Arts (Dance, theater, and music), Media Arts (PSAs, films, and videos), Media Arts (PSAs, films, and videos), Visual Arts (Graphic design, drawings, paintings, photography, and memes), STEM (Robotics, digital design, and games)
Help One Million Bones Challenge
Help us reach our goal of raising $1M for . These organizations are working on the ground to care for the air, land, and water around us.
$500,000
Raised of $500,000 goal
0
Creative expressions
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Youth engaged
Learn more about the partner organizations these funds are helping support.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions before signing up?