Several Chelmsford High School art students recently created portraits of Syrian children as part of The Memory Project, a youth arts organization that promotes intercultural understanding and kindness between children around the world.

by Jennie Oemig

Chelmsford – Students in art teacher Allison Gover’s Studio 3, Honors and AP Art classes at Chelmsford High School recently had the opportunity to do something incredibly special for children all the way around the globe.

Participating in The Memory Project, a youth arts organization that promotes intercultural understanding and kindness between children around the world, the students were matched with children from Syria, for whom they created portraits. Those portraits were then delivered to the children.

“My students really enjoyed working on these knowing how meaningful they would be to the children receiving them,” Ms. Gover said.

The Memory Project was started by Ben Schumaker when he was a student at the University of Wisconsin in 2004.

“I was passionate about connecting youth around the world through art to help build cultural understanding and international kindness,” he shares on The Memory Project’s website. “Today, I continue to be inspired by all of the art teachers and students who bring their own passions to these collaborative efforts.”

The Memory Project gets its name from its first intention, which was to provide handmade, heartfelt portraits as special memories to children in orphanages.

“Now our intention has expanded to touching the lives of youth around the world facing many types of challenges, while opening our hearts and minds so they can touch ours in return,” the website states.

While not entirely sure when the project started at Chelmsford High School, Ms. Gover said she is happy to carry on the tradition.

“It really is a special project for the students, knowing that they are creating a work of art that will travel across the world to brighten the lives of children living in very difficult circumstances,” she said. “I think it is one of the most important and impactful projects we do here at the high school.”