A SCHOOL has been helping out orphaned children around the world through art.

Hitchin Girls’ School art students have been busy painting portraits of children in Honduras.

The portraits will be packaged up and send to the Memory Project charity in Massachusetts. The charity gives budding artists a photograph of a child who has been orphaned, neglected or disadvantaged, and they then create a picture which is sent to the child as a gift.

Year 12 pupil Olivia Durley, who took part in the project, said: “I really loved having the opportunity to take part in such a lovely project, it excited me so much to be able to get involved in creating happiness for another child through art.

“It is such a great idea to paint portraits for those who are less fortunate. It was really enjoyable to have art make such an impact and I can’t wait to hear the reactions from the children once they receive their portraits.”

Hitchin Girls’ School’s partner school, Chapin in New York, also took part in the project.

They will send their portraits along with those from the girls’ school, and they will all be delivered to the orphans personally by founder Ben Schumaker.

“We are extremely honoured to have been part of this fantastic international art project,” added assistant headteacher Ruth Cooper.

“Our girls have formed a real connection with the children they have drawn and we cannot wait to see footage of the children receiving their portraits in the summer.”