These photographs show 4 of the 10 children with the portraits painted for them by Watkinson student artists. Given that children who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, or orphaned usually have few personal keepsakes, the purpose of the portraitsis to provide them with a special memory of their youth and to help honor
their heritage and identity.

"The compassion we have witnessed at the hands of participating students gives us hope that, little by little, kindness spreads."

Ben Schumaker, the founder of The Memory Project