History and Philosophy

What is the Memory Project?
What is the purpose of the project?
How did the project start?
How many art students are involved?
Who are the children that receive portraits?

The infants, children, and teenagers for whom we make portraits live in children's homes, orphanages, and other residential centers serving youth who have been abandoned, orphaned, abused, or neglected. We have so far made portraits for youth in over 30 countries in Central and South America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia.

We find the youth involved in the project to be remarkable in their character, warmth, and resiliency. We therefore do our best to avoid pitying them, because the children themselves do not want to be pitied. Instead, we see them as heroes for their strength of spirit, and as friends!

How many portraits does each child receive?
How do the kids react to the portraits?
Do the kids also get to make something for the art students?
How do we get involved?