At my school, we do what is called "The Memory Project" each year.  Art students are assigned a photograph of a child orphan to create a unique and original artwork.  Students have drawn portraits, a gift that the orphans truly enjoy, for children of all ages from El Salvador, Burma and Indonesia for the past three years. The project was created by one generous man in Wisconsin named Ben Schumaker.  Each year Ben takes hundreds of pieces of art to children who live in orphanages around the world to present them with an original piece of artwork that they can call their own.  And students in DC love to create the art as well!  What a beautiful arrangement!

The favorite part of the project for my students is that sometimes they get a letter or a picture of "their orphan" holding the portrait that they created several months after the portraits were submitted for the school's deadline.  The students at my school love seeing the child's face smiling and holding their new portrait.

Take a look at this great website and video to learn a little more about the Memory Project.

www.thememoryproject.org/inside

Also, if you are an art teacher or know someone who is, please recommend to them that they take part in this amazing experience for their students.

M