This episode refers to a number of visuals that are in the video version which can be seen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IDQhRnwnT1iqINDJo6rXc or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Fyc7fM4ThnU
We believe the message is an important one, even if you do not watch the video, and hope that you will enjoy this and every episode of our series.
The Memory Project is a unique initiative in which US high school students create handmade portraits as special gifts for children facing challenges around the world.
The portraits serve as beautiful and meaningful memories for the children, though the deepest purpose of the project is to connect youth around the world in a supportive and positive way. By carefully capturing the soft expression of each child's eyes and the playfulness in their smiles, and then sending the finished artwork to them as a gift, participating high school students promote feelings of friendship between countries and cultures.
Today Ben Schumaker will tell us how the Memory Project began in 2004 and also share stories of his efforts in Afghanistan, where he aimed to help youth feel interconnected despite religious and cultural differences.
Ben started the Memory Project (memoryproject.org) as a graduate student at UW-Madison in 2004. Ben's aim is to help build understanding and kindness between youth from disparate cultures, and to date the program has involved 300,000 youth from 56 different countries.
To learn more, check out the Memory Project website:
You can also see the video of our last delivery of art to Afghanistan: