A New Approach to Community Service: The Memory Project
Printer-friendly versionDonating ten dollars to a cause is a helpful way to give aid to those in need, but it also lacks an emotional connection to those on the receiving end of the donation.
In 2003, the Memory Project was founded by Ben Schumaker at the University of Wisconsin to provide a unique alternative to the conventional way of giving to the underprivileged. When participating in the Memory Project, art students create portraits of orphans and send the finished products back to the children.
The purpose of the portraits, according to the program’s mission statement, is “to provide them with a special memory of their youth, to honor their heritage and identity, and to help them build a positive self-image.”
In 2003 Schumaker, while volunteering in Guatemala, became acquainted with a man who had spent his childhood in an orphanage, and learned of the emotional hardships that often accompany the experience of living in an orphanage. Instead of simply creating another non-profit organization to raise money for these underprivileged children, Schumaker created the Memory Project as a way to help American youth emotionally connect to the less fortunate kids in other parts of the world. Student artists receive pictures of orphans in other nations and hone their skills to create portraits via drawings, paintings, or digital art. The completed pictures are then sent back to the orphans.
In 2008, Amity High School video production teacher Elizabeth Smolinski helped the school create its own chapter as an advisory club. With funding from the Amity PTSA and the Jamie A. Hulley Fund for the Arts, Amity students are able to afford the cost of shipping these portraits to the children.
The Amity chapter contributes to the more than 25,000 portraits that have been and continue to be delivered to orphaned children around the world. Last year, the club created portraits for orphans in Honduras. Often students try to make their portraits more personal. For example, Mrs. Smolinski included soccer balls in the background of her portrait due to the popularity of soccer in Honduras.
This year, members of the Memory Project are creating portraits for orphans in Lima, Peru. Jessica Seidman, a sophomore, joined the Memory Project because she was intrigued by its unique approach.
“There are more ways you can help people other than just giving money. It’s another way to brighten a young child’s day, and it gives them something to look forward to.”
Schumaker says that young children respond strongly to the portraits. “They hold their portraits proudly and show them to everyone around.”
The Amity chapter of the Memory Project is looking forward to sending their portraits to the children and hopes to see continuing growth in the size of the club next year.
