Past Challenges
Bringing young people together for global change.
Learn About our Past Challenges
Previous Challenges
Sparking global change through art–ivism
2022: World Needs Challenge
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.
Go to Challenge page
Honoring everyday heroes
2021: Changemaker Challenge
Students faced a number of issues during this Challenge: a global pandemic, socially distant learning, racial injustice, the environment, and much more. That’s why we invited students to make awards for changemakers in their own backyard. Their awards also helped support changemakers around the world!
Go to Challenge page
Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition
2020: The Hunger Challenge
Students brought the ingredients to cook up change. Tens of millions of children around the world go to bed hungry or malnourished each night. Students from around the world changed that. Through the Hunger Challenge, students were able to mobilize $2.3 million for programs fighting hunger both locally and globally.
Go to Challenge page
Ocean Conservation
2019: The Ocean Challenge
More than 1,000 teams in 40 countries participated in the Ocean Challenge, making it one of the largest campaigns in our 10-year history! Student generated donations helped nine nonprofit organizations train coastal youth in ocean conservation and coral restoration.
Go to Challenge page
Engaging Difference
2018: Facing Difference Challenge
The Facing Difference Challenge was held during the 2017-18 school year to help educators worldwide empower young people to reflect and take action toward building understanding, empathy, and peace.
Go to Challenge page
Youth Empowerment
2017: Youth Uplift Challenge
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.
Go to Challenge page
Syrian Refugee Crisis
2016: Healing Classrooms Challenge
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 program serving Syrian refugees.
Go to Challenge page
Earthquake Recovery
2015: Flowers for Nepal Challenge
Students Rebuild joined forces with Save the Children to support children affected by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. The Bezos Family Foundation matched every non-perishable flower garland you mailed in with $2, and donated $200,000 for temporary schools and safe places to play, back-to-school kits, and more.
Go to Challenge page
Access to Literacy Programs
2015: Literacy Challenge
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—up to $300,000—to Save the Children’s Literacy Boost program in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Go to Challenge page
Clean Water
2014: Water Challenge
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.
Go to Challenge page
Typhoon Recovery
2013: Typhoon Haiyan Challenge
Students Rebuild partnered with Save the Children to support Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines. Students around the world wrote letters 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.
Go to Challenge page
Humanitarian Crisis
2012: 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 (DRC.)
Go to Challenge page
Earthquake Recovery
2010: Haiti Challenge
In the first-ever Students Rebuild Challenge, students raised funds to benefit those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Students Rebuild partnered with Architecture for Humanity and Global Nomads Group so students and educators could raise much-needed funding for school reconstruction.
Go to Challenge page
Earthquake and Tsunami Recovery
2011: Paper Cranes for Japan Challenge
In 2011, Students Rebuild partnered with DoSomething.org and Architecture for Humanity to give students a way to support their Japanese peers affected by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Sendai. We asked students to make paper cranes and mail them to have their efforts matched by the Bezos Family Foundation.
Go to Challenge page