Storymakers Project:
The Children's Crusade

Kai XR, in collaboration with its nonprofit arm Kai XR Futures, is proud to announce production of its first student-created virtual reality (VR) production: The Children’s Crusade.

This immersive learning experience honors the bravery of Birmingham’s youth during the Civil Rights Movement and premiered at Sloss Tech 2025 on June 26, 2025.

Project Overview
‍Rooted in collaboration with local teachers, community leaders, and students, this project put Birmingham youth in the driver’s seat, combining storytelling with cutting-edge tech. Over four weeks, students in grades 3–7 participated in hands-on workshops learning 360° video production, scriptwriting, filming, and editing. Applications came in from across Birmingham, representing homeschool, charter, and public school communities.

Along the way, students visited key landmarks such as 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, and Phillips Academy, while also exploring community history at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Alicia’s Coffee, located in the historic A.G. Gaston Motel.

More than a lesson in history, this experience showed students how to take action—just like the foot soldiers of the 1963 march. Working in teams, students practiced real-world problem-solving, media production, and career-connected learning by bringing this powerful story to life.

The final VR product, created by and for students, is a three-part immersive experience titled: The Children's Crusade. These segments were paired with classroom-ready curriculum, forming new Kai XR Learning Adventures for schools across Alabama and the U.S. Visit each part's page to view the VR film.

• Part 1: Identifying Injustice
• Part 2: Collective Action
• Part 3: Global Impact

The project debuted at the Sloss Tech Conference on June 26, where attendees previewed the first film, met the student creators, attended a panel to hear from parents, teachers, and the students themselves, and visited a hands-on VR showcase led by students.