Lake Highlands seniors Callie Herod and Marria Nakhoda want to make a difference. This summer, they developed a plan to put their personal talents to work raising money for refugees around the world. Thanks to the far reach of the internet and the generosity people here in LH, they are making it happen.

According to Callie, Marria is “an amazing artist with endless creativity.” Marria says Callie “has a brain for business and knows how to get things done.” Together, the girls created The Art Project to solicit donated art, sell the pieces on Ebay, and contribute the proceeds to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees

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“We wanted to help our fellow humans, and that includes refugees all around the world,” Marria told me. “We have students at LHHS who are refugees, and we want to help develop a sense of community for the world as a whole.” Both girls have given service hours for National Honor Society and Girls’ Service League, but they wanted to do something more personal – something with a global effect.

They’ve received about 15 donated pieces so far, with the help of their friends in the art world. Callie has interned at The Rachofsky House and for the Trammell Crow Collection of Asian Art, and Marria has worked closely with LHHS art teacher Tina Walker and other LH art students. Four pieces have sold thus far. “We were so excited when we had our first sale,” said Callie. “Then a piece sold to a man in Arkansas and we celebrated while packing it and getting it ready to be shipped. And we always include hand-written thank you notes.”

They say the hardest part has been learning to manage Ebay and Paypal accounts and balancing school work and other activities (Callie is on the varsity softball team and Marria dances competitively) but they say they aren’t missing anything. “This enhances our senior year. We’ve been given so much. It feels good to give back to others.” In addition to viewing and/or purchasing art on their website, you can email Callie and Marria here.