LYNNFIELD — The youngest refugees around the world face immense challenges every day, from neglect and abuse to poverty and the loss of their parents.
As they face these day to day challenges, it can be hard for the children to feel valued, according to Lynnfield High junior Zoe Chen.
When Chen heard about the Memory Project, a non-profit that invites art teachers and their students to create portraits for youths around the world, she said she knew it was something she wanted to get involved with.
“The intent of the portraits is to help children feel valued and important, to know that many people care about their well being, and to act as meaningful pieces of personal history in the future,” said Chen. “For the art students, this is meant as an opportunity to creatively practice kindness and global awareness.”
Chen gathered about a dozen fellow students in an informal afterschool art club to create portraits for Syrian children now living in a refugee camp in Jordan. Those portraits run through a variety of media and styles, but all bring a great depth to their subjects.
Several of the students said the project helps them and others see the impact of refugees crises across the globe.
“When you can take a look at the individual people affected rather than a large group, in can have more of an impact on people,” said Julia Henriques.
LHS art teacher Laura Johnson brought the information about the Memory Project forward to Chen and the other students, but she said Chen is the one who has really organized and led the effort.
“It’s nice to have students in a little town like Lynnfield thinking globally,” Johnson said.
Chen said the students plan on sending the completed portraits to the refugee camp next month.
The Memory Project does request a participation fee of $15 per person, which covers the cost of the project, including delivering the portraits to children around the world.
Anyone interested in donating to the project can make out a check to “The Memory Project,” which can be collected at the high school, or donations can be made online at www.memoryproject.org/contribute.
