OUR MISSION
Canta Canta is a student-led nonprofit that creates and distributes handmade interactive art books to pediatric patients, with a focus on children from under-resourced, uninsured, and immigrant communities.
"Art is a wound turned into light."
Georges Braque, French Painter
What We Create
Designed and submitted by Vanderbilt students, these books offer moments of comfort, creativity, and connection to children receiving care in clinics across Tennessee, as well as hospitals nationally and internationally.
Why It Matters
Canta Canta builds bridges between the Vanderbilt community and underserved patient populations through the healing power of art. We believe creative expression helps children process difficult emotions, feel joy, and feel less alone. For those facing medical or emotional uncertainty, our books offer light during a dark time. Campus-wide engagement with Canta Canta also raises awareness about healthcare inequities and invites students to transform small acts of creativity into meaningful human connections.
Creating Lasting Impact
Our mission is to bring comfort in the moment and strength over time. We hope children experience joy through simple acts of coloring, imagining, and play. But more than that, we hope these moments plant seeds of hope and a positive mindset that grow with them on their journey.