Creating Art and Raising Funds to Address Climate Change with Little Amal

Young people and their families created over 800 works of art at Students Rebuild’s art workshops in Southern California last week with Little Amal, generating donations to organizations combating climate change and helping those impacted by climate issues.

The events featured young people clustered on the western end of the Santa Monica Pier and in San Diego’s South Mission Beach, using markers, scissors, and paper to celebrate what makes the Earth special, depicting a beautiful vision of the planet’s future, and welcoming displaced families into their unique communities. The workshops both preceded a visit from Little Amal, a 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee who has been walking around the world to spread awareness about the plight of refugees.

“We were so pleased to have Students Rebuild join us on the last leg of Little Amal’s U.S. tour, raising awareness about the interconnected issues of climate conservation and climate refugees to students across Los Angeles and San Diego County,” said Amir Nizar Zuabi, artistic director for The Walk with Little Amal. “Little Amal is a symbol of human rights and hope for refugees around the world, and her power is felt in every city she’s touched through this tour and beyond. We are grateful to have Students Rebuild come join us and empower youth to engage with diverse communities and channel art to make a global difference."

The event marked Students Rebuild and Little Amal partnering for the final leg of her United States cross-country tour in Santa Monica and San Diego. It was part of Students Rebuild’s year-long art challenge, the Extraordinary Earth Project, which engages youth to channel environmental education into actionable works of art. With every art submission, the program donates to global climate organizations working to protect the Earth, including Choose Love/Choose Earth, the National Wildlife Federation, Eden Reforestation Projects, Solgaard Nyx Foundation, and The Little Amal Fund. From earthquakes to heat waves, Californians have experienced many natural disasters in recent years, but last winter’s atmospheric rainstorms brought home the need for creative solutions to climate issues, grounded in a sense of hope so that our youngest generations can grow up knowing their actions make a difference.

“We saw young people in Los Angeles and San Diego come together in a beautiful way this past week,” said Alex Manuel, managing consultant for Students Rebuild. “Students and families across southern California joined us to bring artivism – art-activism – to life, making an immediate and lasting impact towards mitigating climate disasters around the world. Together, we shed light on the plight of climate refugees who are impacted by climate change and natural disasters.”

Students Rebuild has been helping classrooms make a global impact through art-activism (artivism) since responding in 2010 to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Since then, annual challenges have mobilized more than 1.3 million people globally, raising more than $12.5 million in matching funds to solve global issues. A year ago, Students Rebuild created postcards for refugees, and thirteen years ago, the program fundraised to rebuild schools in Haiti.

Is your classroom up for the Challenge? Register for free online at studentsrebuild.org/register!