Greenfield International School students create portraits for The Memory Project

The Memory Project is a youth arts organisation that promotes intercultural understanding and kindness between children around the world.  Its principal aim is to preserve and share the memories of children from different cultures and backgrounds who have been affected by adversity; children who have faced many types of challenges and by so doing, create a reciprocal relationship based on cordiality and kindness despite differences.

This is the fourth time Greenfield International School has contributed to such a worthwhile and noble cause. By taking part in this altruistic initiative, our students have been part of creating a collective memory that ultimately celebrates diversity, promotes empathy, and encourages intercultural understanding.

In our current project, our students have thoroughly enjoyed creating portraits of Syrian orphans with the aim of providing a visual representation of the children and their stories and by so doing, capturing their unique personalities, emotions, and experiences. Each portrait captures the essence of the individual child, as a means of preserving their memories and legacies. Portraiture transcends the limitation of words - the character of each subject cannot be conveyed through mere language alone. These artworks therefore provide a window into the subject's life and experiences.

One of the many reasons Greenfield International School enjoys participating in the Memory Project is because it aligns so seamlessly with the core values and objectives of the IB programme. One of the great strengths of the MYP and DP curriculum is the amalgamation of academia, experimental thinking combined with global citizenship and service. Altruism is an integral dimension of the International Baccalaureate and one which is celebrated with pride in our school.

By working on this project, we hope to highlight the importance of service as it seeks to educate and inspire our students to engage in meaningful and impactful acts of kindness and generosity, thus developing the values of compassion, empathy, and global citizenship. 

The Memory Project is a powerful example of how the celebration of service can play a key role in shaping individuals who are not only knowledgeable, but also ethical and responsible citizens of the world who contribute to developing our understanding of humanity.

Student testimonials:

Vaishanavi Mahesh Ram, Grade 8: "This is the second time I have contributed to this project. To me this initiative is truly worthwhile as I enjoy using my skills to contribute to a great cause. As I created my portraits, all I could think about was the young children that I would bring smiles to. Reading their stories made me realise the hardships that some of these children face. This service opportunity is awesome in my opinion, as I have the chance to be creative whilst also helping others."

Rafa Atienza, Grade 8: "I reflected on my experiences in participating in this memory project, and I realized that the knowledge and skills I learn in school contribute to something larger than me – that I can use what I know to help others; that my art can be my service in giving other people voices to tell their stories and challenges. I am grateful and humbled by the opportunity to share myself and contribute to a bigger cause."

Keerthi Shaji, Grade 9: "For the memory project, I was able to draw portraits of two young Syrian orphans. It was an amazing experience for me as possibly bringing a smile on a young child’s face who had to go through a great deal of pain and suffering is very gratifying. I am incredibly grateful for an opportunity to support such a good cause."

Hana Omar, Grade 11: "As part of the memory project, I was given the opportunity to create portraits for two orphan Syrian girls. These two girls come from a war-stricken country which has a lack of resources, meaning it isn't normal to see photographs and portraits of themselves. I was able to create colourful and creative portraits of each of the girls, giving them the opportunity to see themselves in a different light. 

"The memory project allows each child to receive a personalised gift of themselves, reminding them that they are special, and they should always treasure themselves. This initiative is very important to me as it is a reminder that I am fortunate to live the life that I am living, and that art is such a simple yet powerful way to bring a smile to someone’s face."