We are dedicated to empowering youth through creative expression and cultural understanding by distributing art supplies and facilitating community art programs within refugee camps.
Collect – We accept used and new art supplies from individual donors locally and abroad as well as used crayons from restaurants where law requires them to be thrown away after only one use. Over 100 million crayons are thrown out every year by more than 15,000 family-style restaurant chains across the U.S. Restaurants that save their crayons to be given to us are giving them a second life in the hands of refugee children.
Connect – It’s not just about saving art supplies from landfills, we’re growing cultural awareness by developing art programs in refugee camps around the world, while creating sustainable donation programs using recycled art supplies. Through various activities, such as art exchanges and coloring events, we build lasting relationships that create a unified global community.
Build – Long after we’ve left it’s important children continue to express themselves creatively. We continue to develop solutions with local partners to promote sustainable art programs and social entrepreneurism within the camps.
Our story begins when we welcomed home our friend Alejandro who had just returned from working in Jerash refugee camp outside of Amman, Jordan. While sharing his experience in the camp, Alejandro was surprised that children had no access to art supplies and asked if we had any he could to take back with him. Alejandro spoke of the moment he gave colored pencils to the children and the magic that occurred when they were given tools to express themselves with, they colored for hours. It was in that moment that Color the Camps was born.
What was first imagined as a suitcase full of crayons, became a non-profit and within a few short months over 300 pounds of art supplies, most of which had been rescued from landfills, had been collected to deliver to Jerash refugee camp in Jordan.
This was just the beginning. Together, with community partners, both local and abroad, Color the Camps will continue to stay true to its commitment to empower young refugees all over the world.
We are a diverse group of tenacious friends committed to distributing art supplies and facilitating the development of art programs in refugee camps around the world.
Chelsea has a degree in Environmental Sociology and International Development from Colorado State University. She has experience with non-profit organizations in fundraising, grant writing, marketing and outreach. Chelsea has a deep passion for traveling, art, experiencing new cultures and most of all, serving people. As the president of Color the Camps she is combining these passions into one and is working to make the world a little brighter for children all across the world.
Betty has a degree from the University of Colorado, Denver in Psychology and Anthropology with a focus in human development. She has studied the effects of art on children’s well being, specifically those in high stress situations like the kids living in the camps. She uses every tool available to understanding and loving the people around her both near and far.
Documentary filmmaker and photographer, Alejandro has over 7 years experience working exclusively with NGOS focusing on human rights. He is currently based in the Middle East working on his second feature film documenting the lives of 3 young refugees.
Alejandro is fluent in four languages and holds a degree in Writing and Directing from Colorado Film School and International Business from and University of Denver, Colorado.
Inside the refugee camps, we partner directly with individual refugees and organizations who understand the needs of children and how we can support them through our work. Outside the camps our partners collaborate and share resources to create new initiatives and programs that will directly support each camp, promote intercultural understanding and growing awareness of issues young refugees face. We’ve built a network of partners allowing us to connect resources to the communities where we work. Collaboration is essential to forging lasting change and we’re honored to be working with those who work to improve young refugee’s lives.
One Love – حب واحد
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