Pharrell Williams and The LEGO Group team up to launch Build the Change Playful Schools Challenge

Pharrell Williams and The LEGO Group have partnered together to launch global learn through play initiative to help reimagine how children best learn, dream and play.

The LEGO Build the Change Playful Schools Challenge launched earlier last week on the LEGO website. 

Williams’ non-profit organisation YELLOW and the LEGO Group aim to empower children and have them celebrate their individuality and styles of learning.

A short film narrated by Williams can be seen on the website, and the challenge has been inspired by Williams’ own experience of learning differently to others, associating colors with music and sound through synesthesia.

Anyone around the world can participate, at home or in the classroom, and children will be encouraged to create their ideal space to learn, dream, and play with available materials like paper, pens, LEGO bricks and recycled materials. 

During the challenge, children will be encouraged to create their ideal space to learn, dream and play with any materials available – from paper and pens to LEGO® bricks and recycled materials.

Submissions to the challenge can be made to the above website.

The LEGO Group will be working with its network of global partners, including First Book, which supports title one schools across the US, The Day and Forsta to engage children in this challenge. 

Children from youth organisation SoLA Robotics were the first to experience the challenge, sharing their designs and hopes and ideas for a better future with Williams at an event in LA.

“If we’re going to even the odds through education and build a brighter future, we’re going to need more creative ideas, and nobody has better ideas than kids. Kids are brilliant, and when you give them the tools and resources needed to cultivate their curiosity, anything is possible. 

“I’ve been dreaming all my life, and when you’re curious, that is when your imagination is set on fire. I can’t wait to see what kids taking part in this challenge come up with and I know that, together with the LEGO Group, we’re all going to build change,” Wiliams said. 

Williams has also partnered with LEGO for a biopic completely made with LEGO, featuring original music. 

It will release in US cinemas on October 11 and internationally from November 6.