Local Mayfield High School Students Create Art for Syrian Refugees Through Memory Project

Seven students from Mayfield’s Jr/Sr High School Advanced Studio Art class recently participated in the Memory Project. This global initiative encourages art students to create handmade portraits for children in challenging situations worldwide. The goal is to honor these children and enhance their self-esteem. Jeremy Lebediker, a Mayfield art teacher, supports this program. This year, his students made portraits of child refugees from Syria.

Lebediker thinks the project exposes his students to global issues. He observed that his students put in their best effort in this project. They understand the difficulties others face and want to bring happiness to those in need. Since 2004, the Memory Project has involved 320,000 young people in 57 countries.

Jesslin Ochoa, an 11th-grade student, highlighted the project's importance. She said that creating something to make the children's day brighter was meaningful to her. Like her classmates, Ochoa chose her portrait's subject after learning about their background and feeling a connection.

After the portraits are submitted, the schools receive a video of the children receiving their artwork. These videos show the students the impact of their work. The Memory Project, with the schools, allows students to see similarities with others, despite differences in appearance, culture, religion, or circumstances.

For more information about the Memory Project, visit https://www.memoryproject.org/.

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