Salida Middle School (SMS) art students, under the direction of art teacher Alison Manthey, have once again participated in the Memory Project, a global initiative that invites art students to create portraits for children in orphanages around the world. This year, the SMS students created portraits for children in Honduras.
Manthey's art classes have been contributing to the Memory Project for over ten years. The project, founded by Ben Schumaker, provides a unique opportunity for students to connect with and create meaningful art for children facing challenging circumstances.
"The Memory Project is more than just an art assignment," Manthey explains. "It helps my students understand global issues and see the world from different perspectives. The short videos showing the socio-economic reasons kids end up in orphanages are especially powerful. It really helps them realize that circumstances can be very different depending on where you are born."
Over the years, SMS students have created portraits for children in various countries, including Russia, India, Peru, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Nigeria, Uganda, Ecuador, El Salvador, and the United States. Due to privacy regulations, the students cannot put their names on the portraits, ensuring the focus remains on the gift.
"My favorite part is when we receive videos of the children receiving their portraits. It’s not always our specific works, but seeing the joy in these children as they receive the art makes it all worthwhile," Manthey added.
The Memory Project aims to provide personal keepsakes and bring joy to children living in orphanages. The program also fosters cross-cultural understanding and empathy among the student artists in the United States.
For more information about the Memory Project, visit https://www.memoryproject.org/participate.
