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Students Rebuild Launches 'Protect Our Planet' Initiative

In an inspiring move for global youth engagement, Students Rebuild, a project of Creative Visions, has kicked off its 2026-2027 initiative called 'Protect Our Planet'. This innovative campaign encourages young people aged 5 to 25 worldwide to create works of art based on their observations and learnings related to the environment. The initiative runs until June 1, 2027, and for each creative submission made, a donation of $5 will be made to environmental organizations, reaching up to $1 million in total contributions.

A Call to Action for Young People

The 'Protect Our Planet' initiative represents a significant opportunity for young people to express their creativity and tackle pressing environmental issues that affect their communities and the world. As highlighted in a recent survey conducted by Students Rebuild, 45% of youth consider climate change as the leading challenge of their generation, with many feeling helpless in the face of this crisis. The initiative aims to convert feelings of anxiety into constructive action by empowering participants to engage creatively with topics surrounding air, land, and water.

Pat Chandler, President and CEO of Creative Visions, remarked, "In an era of climate disasters and uncertainty, youth must realize they are equipped to drive change. 'Protect Our Planet' offers them a hopeful and creative pathway to convert their concerns into tangible action, funding organizations dedicated to protecting our environment."

Multi-faceted Participation

Participants are invited to explore the three fundamental components of our ecosystem—air, land, and water—and convey their insights through varied forms of creative expression such as visual art, film, poetry, music, and STEM projects. This creative work serves as not only an expressive outlet but also a vital means to educate others and advocate for change. By contributing, participants not only promote their own ideas but also partake in a global conversation about climate action.

Janine Campbell, a Visual Arts Educator at Byron Center West Middle School, stated, "Art provides my students with a universal language to express their perspectives and effect change. Being part of 'Protect Our Planet' allows them to contemplate their surroundings and realize how their creativity can result in significant contributions to society."

Funding Focus

The funds raised from the initiative will benefit several environmentally-focused organizations, including One Earth, The Nature Conservancy, Seatrees, Green Horizon Ventures, and the National Wildlife Federation. Each of these organizations will utilize the support to drive various conservation projects, ranging from tree planting initiatives to community-driven ecology programs involving young leaders in multiple countries.

Examples of Initiatives Funded:

• - One Earth plans to enhance its Navigator platform across ten critical bioregions, allocating $10,000 towards each conservation project.
• - Seatrees aims to plant 7,000 mangrove seedlings and 500 coral fragments in various locations while training women and youth in sustainable practices.
• - The National Wildlife Federation will kick off student-led projects in up to 50 schools, especially focusing on Indigenous youth's engagement on the Colorado River.

How to Get Involved

Educators and youth leaders can register their classes or groups to participate, utilizing provided lesson plans to guide students in exploring the environmental changes affecting them. Once created, students can submit their works to Students Rebuild to unlock donations, helping to fund crucial environmental initiatives worldwide.

The 'Protect Our Planet' initiative does not merely seek to engage young people in art-making; it aims to equip them with the tools needed for understanding ecological complexities and cultivating solutions. Over the past 16 years, Students Rebuild has engaged more than 1.4 million youth, generating 7.1 million creative works and raising over $17.6 million for frontline partners. This rich legacy signifies not just creative engagement but a commitment to fostering empathy and civic responsibility among young generations.

For more information on how to get involved in the 'Protect Our Planet' initiative or to stay updated on its progress, visit the Students Rebuild website. Creative Visions also emphasizes the importance of storytelling in advocacy and uses various arts forms to inform and inspire change across critical issues, continuing a legacy rooted in making a substantial difference in the world.

Together, through creativity and action, the future seems a little brighter as youth around the globe come together to protect our precious planet.