Starting in 2022, Pace e Bene has offered Changemaker Youth Grants—small grants of up to $1,000 to young people ages 12-23 who propose nonviolent solutions to the problems they see in their communities. The results have been inspiring as we get to see dozens of young people feel empowered to take creative action on the issues that impact them the most.

The 2024 grants helped fund projects that touched hearts and uplifted art, that bridged divides and offered care for the most vulnerable. Below you’ll find more details about each project, in the grantees’ own words. Read on to learn more about these projects including a play about the impacts of gun violence, an app that creates a digital safe space for young people—especially those with verbal challenges—to share their art and connect, a series of gatherings to promote religious tolerance, education on the impacts of child neglect, creation and distribution of social-emotional care pillows, the creation of sensory rooms, and a campaign for peace.

Also check out the final showcase, recorded and available to view here.

4/20/99: A Story of Columbine, Utilizing Performance Art to End Gun Violence

Led by Autumn Marie Cazier, with Willow Rain, Aneli Gathercole, Riley Trepanier, Taya Wescott and Mitch Tyler

Autumn Cazier wrote and directed 4/20/99: A Story of Columbine. Read more about this project in Autumn’s own words below.

The purpose of this project is to address the epidemic of gun violence in an artistic way, in the hopes that by doing so within a non-traditional platform, it may resonate with people more deeply. By taking one specific tragedy, in this case, the Columbine High School massacre, we are able to dissect and acknowledge a forefront of violence that began in 1999. Our solutions are open ended. Through portraying the lives of those affected by the tragedy on a much more personal and detailed level, and acknowledging the wake of violence over the span of 25 years that it has left in its path, it will allow audience-goers to go home feeling empowered to make a difference

Oftentimes the heavy material of this show can take a toll on those involved in the project. Luckily though with this current group of participants, there is a lot of love and trust and collaborative work. We are able to work together in aiding each other within our mental health journeys. Teamwork makes the dream work.

I have learned that the skeleton of every project relies on the motivation and experiences of their Leader. Due to my previous experiences in doing the show in the past, I was able to bring forward tips and tricks with a newfound sense of confidence within this team. These new actors have been nothing but loving, supportive and kind, with a determination for the greater good. In the brief time that I have known them their introspection and attention to detail makes me feel proud, and motivated to continue the fight to prevent gun violence.

Roughly 10-15 people were responsible for partaking in assembling this project including the leader, five actors, the staff at Olympus High School (Vice Principal, Theatre Teacher, Main Office and Custodial Staff), as well as our friends at The Uvalde Foundation for Kids. Our audience is geared towards those 18 and over who are either avid theatergoers, friends and families of those involved in the project, survivors, or those that feel persuaded to take action against ending gun violence in their communities.

The one thing that I wish we had done differently, is begin the casting process a little bit earlier as we were a few actors short within this scene. We are very grateful for Mitch Tyler, for stepping in and taking on a role that he was not originally cast in, for the purpose of the showcase. Though unfortunately, we are still one actor short this has not prevented us from moving forward, our leader will be reading those lines off camera during the showcase. Due to the difficult subject matter that this production possesses, casting is always one of the most challenging issues regardless of location.

We are very excited to announce that we will be performing this production in its full-length form for 10 performances this fall in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Regent Street Blackbox Theatre at the Eccles. All participants in the showcase will be performing in our fall performances. The financial support that we have so graciously received from this grant will go directly towards our liability insurance, actors payments, and solidifying our performance space.

Not only do I desire to do this show again and again over the years, but I am very much involved in gun violence activism. As of 2024, I have become the Performing Arts Program Director for The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, a registered member of the Survivors Network at Everytown for Gun Safety, and recently joined my local chapter of Moms Demand Action. My actors have also felt inspired by their participation in this project, such as Riley Trepainer wanting to collaborate with me in conducting a similar project for the Uvalde tragedy. Through my unfortunate personal experience in becoming a secondhand survivor of gun violence, I see gun violence prevention as a prominent issue and passion in my life forever.

Quotes from the actors:

- Riley (Devon Adams): “It has been very rewarding to learn among such a talented and creative team, especially from a Director (Autumn Cazier), who has put so much passion, energy and research expertise into Columbine history. I feel as though this project is truthfully represented, and feel very connected to the story and the heartbreak, complications and commitment to action and hope from the Columbine survivors that it brings.”

- Mitch (Thomas Klebold): “Autumn's direction always comes across as equal parts, confident and supportive in helping me and each of my castmates find just the right essence and emotion for each of our lines and moments with our characters.”

- Willow (Susan Dewitt): “I think for me something that stood out in particular within the show is not only representing how young some of these people and survivors really were, but also the loss of innocence that comes with surviving a tragedy. I feel as though through Autumn’s direction and the participation of my fellow actors, that we are able to sufficiently display that range of emotion.”

See more from the show here.

ARTiculate App

By Karanina Asuncion Hoang

I believe my ARTiculate project effectively addresses violence in a nonviolent way. Violence often arises when people lack awareness, empathy, and knowledge about certain topics, issues, and situations. The inspiration for my app came from witnessing my nonverbal cousin being taunted and made fun of in a group setting. Due to his inability to speak, my cousin could not respond except by running to his iPad to find a way to express how hurt he was through text technology. This inspired me to think of ways to prevent negative situations like this for other young adults or children. I have always been passionate about finding ways technology can improve lives on a more humanistic level. I am also an artist at heart who loves to create and find unique solutions. Often, technology and creativity are thought of as separate concepts, but I am passionate about merging art and technology as a powerful tool to connect people and help them understand how others think or live their everyday lives. Many youth my age turn to technology, but it is still evolving so finding technology channels that address being kind and empathetic is still challenging amongst a sea of options in today’s world of technological tools. This is how my ARTiculate app was born and why I wanted to develop it. I wanted to create a technological tool like my ARTiculate App to be a safe space where youth can express their emotions and experiences through art and creativity. In return, it provides a way for other youth from all backgrounds and ages to understand and be aware that we are not all that different when it comes to expressing ourselves and that we can connect peacefully through the universal language of art.

I was the sole creator that developed the ARTiculate app for this project. The ARTiculate app is still in the final beta phase, therefore there have been about roughly 4+ people who have tested the app so far and given feedback. This download count is growing as I continue promoting my app. The beta test audience of the ARTiculate app seems to be youth between the ages 6-14+ who are neurodivergent, nonverbal with Autism Spectrum Disorders. However, I am not limiting my audience to specific groups and plan to be inviting and inclusive to all participants.

The specific comments and feedback I have received from people who have downloaded my app have all been very positive! They have complimented me on developing technology in a very unique and creative way. One parent told me that art is the only way their child can express themselves, and having a platform like the ARTiculate app where they can display their artworks motivates their child to express themselves creatively without fear of judgment. Most of the feedback I received expressed gratitude that the app remains a free resource and channel for all who download it. Likewise, educators are thrilled to have a channel to showcase artworks in a gallery for parents and youth to review and appreciate. This app provides an outlet for many people to connect with art and creativity as a unifying factor.

There were many things I learned during the process of creating the ARTiculate app. I discovered a definite need for developing technological “safe spaces” for certain communities. Many young people and adults are looking for ways to creatively express themselves and interact with each other, but they need the right tools to create safe, respectful, and inclusive environments. I also learned adaptability and developed enormous patience with myself, especially when working with technology. Since I was building an app, there were many times I had to restart or redo strategies in its development. In addition there were many technical challenges in the process of approval for the apps via IOS Apple Store, but I learned to reframe these challenges to develop more creative solutions or add features for the app to be approved. The app is still a continual work in progress due to the strict requirements Apple wants the developer to meet in their app.

Additionally, I found that many people are willing to help, and the first step is never to be afraid to ask for assistance when needed. I also realized the importance of promotional and marketing events to help people later discover my app. I learned to initiate and reach out to specific programs within my community to present the idea of ARTiculate. For example, I contacted the JFK You and Me program for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders, which allowed me to lead an art activity event for their students, who will later upload their artwork to my app. (The pictures and video here are from this event.) For this art event, the focus was to encourage the children to express their feelings through music and translate it to their canvas. I created a playlist with a variety of sounds, including calming ocean waves, upbeat energetic songs, and classical music to inspire different emotional responses and themes in their artwork. After the activity, a key insight I gained was recognizing their unique painting styles and forms of expression. Each child had a distinct approach to their artwork. One child danced to the rhythm of the music while painting. Another preferred finger painting and using their hands instead of paint brushes. A third child combined various materials such as pom-poms, fabric, and stickers on their artwork, rather than relying solely on paint. I also learned that people are shaped by their experiences, and sometimes we have a one-track mindset due to these limitations. Developing tools or channels that promote awareness and empathy for others' experiences is crucial for building understanding in the global community. Most importantly, the best thing I learned from being an awardee of the Pace e Bene Youth Changemaker Grant is that I am still learning and eager to continue learning more lessons along the way as I continue to evolve my ARTiculate app. I am a continuous work in progress, just like ARTiculate. The solid foundation and goal of the app are effective, but as I continue to evolve and learn more about our world and community, I hope to keep developing and improving ARTiculate so that the wider world can benefit from the awareness of unity and harmony through the talents we share with one another.

One thing I would have done differently on this project is to set specific deadlines for each feature I planned to build in the early stages of the ARTiculate app. I should have established more realistic personal deadlines for completing each feature, especially since I am the sole developer.

Additionally, I did not allow myself a realistic grace period for encountering technical challenges and obstacles. For example, I learned there are many approval processes and multiple submissions for my app to be approved for download on the Apple Store. The strict guidelines for an app to be approved on the Apple App Store have been extremely challenging. However, the positive side of this learning experience is that I will implement these strategies I’ve learned from mistakes and obstacles. I will keep moving forward to continue to develop, evolve ARTiculate to the next level, and finally publish a successful app.

I am so eternally grateful to have been given this opportunity by the Pace e Bene organization. It has given me a platform and chance to actualize making my vision and idea into reality. My passion was always to merge my creativity with my love of technology while trying to impact a greater community. In speaking to many people about my app, I also learned that there is definitely a need for awareness on many issues and that technology is a way to connect in awareness as long as people create humanity within the tools of technology being used. I hope to continue evolving and growing a digital community for my ARTiculate app, providing youth with a place to learn, connect, and build awareness of the diverse worlds we each experience, and to share our perspectives in a spirit of mutual understanding through the ARTiculate app.

I am very interested in participating in and leading nonviolence projects and efforts in the future. Being an awardee of the Pace e Bene Changemaker Youth Grant has already had a great impact for me, as it has already provided many opportunities for me to learn and discover new things within a larger community. I hope to continue to raise awareness of how different perspectives can connect in peace and unity.

Brides of Peace

Led by Ms. RO Mariam, Mr. Harry, Ms. Geeta Mall, Ms. Hina, and Mr. Danial are working together for Youth Movement for Women.

The purpose of our Movement is to create Religious Tolerance, Nonviolence, Ahimsa, Peace between the Muslims, Hindus, and Christians, and other religious minorities in our region. The main aim is to create interfaith cooperation with Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and other minorities to prevent religious violence, communal clashes, and inhuman activities making the youth agent of Peace & Nonviolence.

See their slideshow above.

Child Neglect Is a Source of Violence

Led by Mirriam Mnkhondya & Hastings Jailos with Thoko Maduka, Iwonder Isaac, Naom Phiri, and Mary Maveya

Violence has many roots and one of these roots is child neglect. Irresponsible parents and guardians open a door for youth to graduate into adults full of violence. Therefore, there is a need to address child neglect at family level, community level, and individual level. At the community level, our project will address traditional leaders, youth organizations, faith leaders, and schools. Apart from media outreach we need to address root causes of violence by conducting violence capacity building at community level.

The project was very successful in the sense that we reached the intended community with the message. We even received gifts from community members.

However, difficulties were there such as turnout of some faith groups who do not want to see girls speaking in public. Jealousy from other groups. Also because of costs of things the budget was very limited.

About 2000 people benefited from this project. The comments from participants were very courageous. Though in our community they used to see only professionals doing projects not students. However, it was a good lesson to other students that it was possible for us teenagers to stand up and advocate for change we want.

We learned a lot about things such as public ignorance of people on their responsibility, confidence, consultation with city council, and its first time as teens to be awarded a grant. We don’t take it for granted. Skills gained were logical presentation, project monitoring, and evaluation.

We wished if we would establish teen or youth groups in all corners of our community to keep the mission check and balance. We hope next time we will.

Know that fighting violence at any level needs enough resources especially skills of nonviolence campaign. It’s not simple. This is because other violence have their source from poverty, orphanhood, and child neglect as in our case and other youth in our country. Also government is very weak in enforcing laws of nonviolence. This experience have triggered us to continue with nonviolence campaign.

See their slideshow here.

Social-Emotional Care Pillow

Led by Lillyann Lucini

My art classmates and I sewed squishy felt pillows for the students of Ferri Middle School. The pillows were given to guidance counselors who distributed them to students struggling with their emotions during the school day. The pillows were used to destress and comfort students either by being squished, cuddled with, or otherwise manipulated.

About 200 students at Ferri MS in Johnston, RI, benefited from this project. Kids really seemed to appreciate the kindness of being given a pillow that they could squeeze when they were stressed.

Squeezing a pillow is a better way to deal with stress than getting mad or being rude to a teacher or student. It’s hard to make a lot of pillow and it took some time to show other kids how to sew and make pillows.

I am better at sewing and I am happy about that. I learned that kindness and helping people make me feel happy.

I wish more students knew how to sew and I would not have had to take a lot of time teaching them.

I had a lot of fun with this project and now I am thinking of other ways I can help people in the future.

Building Our New Normal: One Sensory Room at a Time

Led by Maya Hammoud and Lara Hammoud

Violence can take many forms but is fundamentally defined as "unpleasant" or "destructive" forces. In our community, individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders endure the ongoing violence of exclusion and lack of proper facilities in communal spaces, which deprives them of daily activities and leads to feelings of alienation from society.

Through our project, The Perception Foundation: Building our New Normal, we addressed the stigma, stereotypes, and challenges faced by the neurodiverse community. We created two sensory spaces at the Little Rock Community Center, offering families a safe haven and the opportunity to participate in community events such as Thanksgiving gatherings, supply drives, and school activities. These spaces also benefit the ABA clinic housed in the same building by providing the necessary facilities for their patients to thrive and improve in ABA therapy and communication skills. Additionally, we constructed a sensory room at Edsel Ford.

Our initiative aims to combat exclusion and promote inclusivity, despite encountering challenges such as finding suitable spaces and coordinating with stakeholders. It highlights the transformative impact of nonviolent solutions in fostering support and acceptance for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders in our community.

Roughly 2,500-2,700 people benefited from our sensory rooms at the Little Rock Community Center and Edsel Ford High School. At Edsel Ford High School, our target audience was individuals with special needs preparing for independent living. At the Little Rock Community Center, our audience consisted of underprivileged individuals with special needs of varying types, who needed a sensory space to participate in community events such as school activities, therapy sessions, and other educational opportunities.

Completing this project taught me the importance of resilience. Initially, I underestimated the challenge of finding suitable locations to build sensory rooms. Despite the widespread need for these spaces, it was difficult to identify facilities with available rooms. However, through months of persistent effort and numerous phone calls, we successfully identified two facilities that not only required sensory rooms but also had suitable open spaces for implementation. Through this process, I gained valuable skills in persistence, networking, and problem-solving. I learned how to navigate challenges, adapt to setbacks, and effectively communicate with stakeholders to achieve our goals. These experiences have equipped me with a deeper understanding of community engagement and project management, which I will carry forward into future initiatives.

After completing my project, I realized that I should have created a 3D mock-up of the sensory rooms instead of relying solely on 2D designs. While the 2D mock-ups were useful initially for planning layouts and item placements, they failed to account for the actual spatial constraints and nuances of the rooms. Consequently, it was difficult to arrange the items as envisioned once they arrived. In the future, I will utilize 3D mock-ups with precise dimensions to better visualize and plan the rooms, ensuring a more accurate execution of the design.

This project holds deep personal significance as it honors my childhood best friend, Dylan. The inspiration came from the sensory room at our school, which greatly benefited him. Motivated by this, I started my foundation by selling bracelets within our community. After successfully building a sensory room for Dylan, I decided to extend this support to others. With the initial funding, I have already constructed two sensory rooms and aspire to complete 26 rooms by 2026. Each step brings me closer to my goal of helping children like Dylan and fostering a more inclusive world.

We got good feedback from our rooms so far, including one lady who stated she was able to take her son out to a public place for the first time in 18+ years without feeling the stigma behind his disorder. Emagine Health Services clinic said, “The sensory room provided by the Perception Foundation has significantly improved our kids' ability to focus and learn. It's a calming space that reduces anxiety and overstimulation. Many of our clients have shown remarkable progress in their social and communication skills. Overall, the sensory room has created a more inclusive and supportive environment for our clients with ASD!”

I am very interested in leading nonviolence initiatives, especially those focused on individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. My approach emphasizes fostering community engagement through events that integrate people with these disorders, promoting inclusivity and understanding. Through my previous projects, I have honed essential skills in constructing sensory rooms and established valuable connections that will help expand and enhance my future initiatives. This experience has strengthened my commitment to creating a more inclusive society

Campaign for Peace

Led by Ms. Suganthi, Women’s Organisation for Rural Development

Suganthi and team organized a series of events to promote peace and nonviolence. A Peace Drawing Programme with children was held on March 16, 2024. An awareness session happened on March 24, 2024. They held two silent walks: the first on March 31st and the second on April 20th. After that, they held two rallies, one on May 18 and the next on June 8th. Here are more details from their team's report:

50 Children participated in the drawing programme.
Roughly 200 people participated in each silence walk and rallies.
Indirect beneficiaries:
- Community members who witnessed the rallies and walks (awareness raised)
- Parents and families of the children who participated in the drawing competition (exposure to peace messages)

The project addressed violence by promoting peace through positive activities:

Peace rallies raised awareness and created a visible public stance against violence.
Silent walks offered a peaceful form of protest and reflection.
The drawing competition encouraged children to express themselves creatively and consider themes of peace.
These activities fostered a sense of community and provided alternative outlets for emotions that might otherwise lead to violence.

Unexpected difficulties:

Challenges in mobilizing a larger audience, especially for the first events.
Limited resources for promoting the project in interior villages.

Specific comments and feedback from participants:

Appreciation for the project and its message of peace.
Requests to expand the project to include interior villages.

Learnings and gained skills:

Organizing and executing community events.
Engaging with diverse audiences, including children.
Importance of tailoring outreach strategies to different demographics.

This project demonstrates a growing interest in peacebuilding within the community. Expanding outreach to interior villages remains a key goal.

Our mission is to INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, and ENGAGE people to solve conflicts without resorting to any form of violence. This project gave us an opportunity to once again carry out our mission. Through education and awareness, we measure the impact of our programs and we have a specific focus on youth, and Children as we believe in the power of young people as change makers.

There is a strong interest in participating in or leading future nonviolence projects. This experience was valuable for future planning, outreach, and resource mobilization.

Overall, this project serves as a successful springboard for continued peacebuilding efforts in Villianur and Pondicherry.

Creating the World They Want to Live In—2024 Youth Changemaker Grants