Investing in Transformation

To invest:  to give or devote time, talent or finances for a purpose or to achieve something
To transform:  to change in condition, appearance or character

BuildaBridge's mission is to engage creative people and the transformative power of art making to bring hope and healing to children, families, and communities in the contexts of crisis and poverty. 

BuildaBridge envisions a world where all children are resilient, experience self-efficacy, and have a vision for their future. BuildaBridge dedicates its resources to building the capacity of creative adults and local communities to fulfill this vision.


For the second year in a row, The Sheila Fortune Foundation and the Union Benevolent Association have both invested in the transformation that has been occurring in the lives of the refugees BuildaBridge serves through the Refugee Project. Since April of 2013, the Refugee Project has served 110 refugees, 91 of whom were children.  Each child attending BuildaBridge groups learns key life lessons through art as metaphor, in addition to academic, artistic, social and character development skills.  Refugee children are also developing their identity in this new culture through art-making experiences that encourage:  1) the exploration of individual creative expression; 2) collaborative art-making, sharing of cultures and dialogue; 3) the child to love and accept themselves; 4) the affirmation of the culture from which they came and the future they envision for themselves; and 5) the ability to express themselves through art without the use of words.  Both the Bhutanese and Burmese refugee children's groups explored the life cycle of butterflies this year as a metaphor for transformation.  The caterpillar to the cocoon, chrysalis to the butterfly, and the flight of the butterfly...one of the most vivid and clear illustrations of transformation for children to understand and apply to their own lives.

BuildaBridge wishes to recognize and thank the following for investing in the transformation of the lives of the refugees we serve for a fourth year:

The Sheila Fortune Foundation - $3,500 grant
Union Benevolent Association - $2,000 grant