Differences Magazine

When news of the devastating tsunami and earthquake hit, many of our workshop girls contacted us saying they wanted to DO SOMETHING. We learned of the Students Rebuild: Japan challenge and knew that we had to be a part of it. Our kids created and sent over 2000 origami cranes. The Bezos Family Foundation offered $2 for every crane sent. Two million cranes flew to Seattle from 38 countries, garnering a huge donation towards rebuilding community centers in Sendai. Currently they are on display in a beautiful art installation at Sendai train station. Thinkpeace girls felt like they made a difference. Are you ready to take action? While registration for Paper Cranes for Japan has ended, you can carry forward the spirit of hope and healing embodied in every Students Rebuild challenge by taking a stand against humanitarian crises. Tap your creativity by making a handmade bone – out of any material you choose – which will raise awareness and critical funds for CARE International's relief work in Burma, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Join A Path Forward today!

In Spring of 2013, one million bones - made by artists, activists, and students - will flood our nation's capital. One Million Bones is a collaborative art installation designed to recognize the millions of victims and survivors who have been killed or displaced by ongoing genocides and mass atrocities in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burma. The mission is to create a visible movement that will increase global awareness of these atrocities while raising the critical funds needed to protect and aid displaced and vulnerable survivors.

One Million Bones is a large-scale social arts practice. That means using education and hands-on art making to raise awareness of genocides and atrocities going on around the world, this very day. Our goal is to mobilize the participation of young people across the world. The contribution of each bone will generate a $1 donation through Students Rebuild for CARE's relief and rebuilding work in Central Africa – up to $500,000. For One Million Bones to realize its vision, we need people to create and donate bones for this event.

The one million bones collected from across the country and installed on the National Mall next Spring will offer a visible petition, to remember victims and survivors, to bring awareness to the issue and to call upon our government to take much needed and long overdue action.

So many people have only the most vague notion of what genocide is, and many more have no idea it's happening now. The most powerful thing we can do to change that is to use art as a means of introducing people to the issue and offering actions related to it.

People of all ages and from all nations are invited to participate in this project. A 2,500 bone installation preview is scheduled in each state capitol on April 28, 2012. To contribute to your state's installation please visit www.onemillionbones.org to contact your state organizer.

If you're interested, we have lots of ways you can get involved and add your voice to the call to end genocide in our time.

• Make a bone

• Sponsor a bone

• Host an event

• Make a donation

• Volunteer

• Spread the word

• Buy a t-shirt

Together we can make a difference and stop genocide. It takes your voice. You are one in a million. Imagine!