The Memory Project
Her name is Beatriz. She is eight
years old, though a bit small for
her age. If you throw her into
the air and catch her in your
arms, she laughs.
I met Beatriz in February 2007. She
stood waiting by the gate of her orphanage in El Salvador as I entered with four
large duffel bags, each one full of faces
that all the children would recognize. As
one can imagine, children in orphanages
grow up with few belongings to call their
own. Photographs
are scarce, and
keepsakes minimal.
What better way to
capture their beauty,
innocence, and dignity than in a portrait?
In my bags were original portraits for
all of the children. They had been made
by advanced high school artists from
across the United States, whose photographs were attached. Beatriz was about
to receive a work of art from a talented
student in Miami, Florida, named Daniela. When I presented her the portrait
on Daniela’s behalf, she smiled, giggled,
and then read aloud the heartfelt message
Daniela had written on the back.
Beatriz returned to her dormitory one
hour later.
From across the bunkhouse, I watched as
she found some tape and hung her image
on the front of her locker: the one place
in the world containing items just for her.
As I closed my eyes and took a breath,
I felt a tingle of the warmth that had
passed between these two individuals—a
girl from El Salvador and a teenager from
Miami—who are no longer strangers.
This is the Memory Project. More than
10,000 high school artists have partici-
pated by creating portraits for children in
orphanages around the
More than 10,000 high school world. When the por-
artists have participated by traits are delivered, the
creating portraits for children in children are invited to
make drawings for the
orphanages around the world. art students, thus com-
pleting an exchange of
kindness and friendship from miles apart.
We are honored to receive such positive
feedback from teachers:
“This is my favorite project in all my
years of teaching!”
—Jenny Davidson, WA
“I can truly say this was one of the high-
lights of my teaching career.”
—Zita Hudnut, NJ
“Our students said this was one of the
most moving experiences they have
er had, and one that they will always
member about high school.”
Tom Steward, WI
Participating in your wonderful pro-
am, even with just a few kids, has been
high point in my teaching career.”
—Erin Albright, TX
This is the most meaningful, impor-
ant, and valuable project I have ever
w orked on with my students.”
—Kellye Markowski, MO
Please visit us at www.th
ememo-ryproject.org to find out how to get
involved. We also have a program
called Books of Hope ( www.booksof-
hope.org) that is open to students at
all levels K– 12.
