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| Brehane, elderly woman from Obal village - Photo by Axel Fassio |
"We were resigned to the necessity of migrating, without knowing where to go. Today we are here, our village is prospering and we can live on our land. Water keeps our roots and our traditions alive."
Brehane - an elderly woman from the Obal village
(Venice, Italy) Ten photographs. Ten stories. Ten months. "Water, Future, Life," ten photographs by Axel Fassio tell ten different stories in an itinerary that weaves throughout the heart of Venice and Mestre for the next ten months to raise awareness of the ten years that the Fondazione Elena Trevisanato has been doing good deeds in Ethiopia.
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| Zahi, village chief of Darwoanji - Photo by Axel Fassio |
"Since the day we got water, it is not only the history of individuals that changed, but the history of our entire community. It has been a dream come true. It is like we are born again."
Zahi, village chief of Darwoanji
Elena Trevisanato died very young, at age 19, when she fell off a horse. Her family spun their grief into gold by setting up the non-profit Fondazione Elena Trevisanato, which has transformed the lives of about 135,000 people by bringing water, new schools and health care to villages in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. With images and words, ten villagers reflect upon how their lives have been transformed by the Fondazione Elena Trevisanato.
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| Asma, student from Darwonaji village - Photo by Axel Fassio |
"Education is the light of the world."
Asma - 12-year-old student from the Darwonaji village
The exhibition began on October 5 on Salizada San Samuele where the ten photographs were sprinkled throughout various businesses along the street. It will continue until July 2019, culminating with an auction next September. Here is the itinerary:
- October 2018: Salizada San Samuele
- November 2018: Campo Santa Margherita
- December 2018: Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio
- January 2019: the island of Giudecca
- February 2019: the Rialto Fish Market
- March 2019: the center of Mestre
- April 2019: vaporetto stops along the Grand Canal
- May 2019: Campo San Giovanni e Paolo
- June 2019: Forte Marghera
- July 2019: Fondamenta Misericordia
At the inauguration next February, there will be an event at the Rialto Fish Market open to all. The Fondazione Elena Trevisanato believes that the Rialto Fish Market is a historic space that is synonymous with work and tradition, as well as the future and life of all the citizens of Venice.
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| Selam, patient at Darwonaji health center - Photo by Axel Fassio |
"The presence of the hospital ward has greatly improved the assistance we receive. Today, the dispensary of our village is a real place of care."
Selam, patient at the Darwonaji health center
Photographer Axel Fassio is a "globetrotter since birth, a Venetian by adoption." He has exhibited throughout the world, from Europe to the United States, from Argentina to Sri Lanka and Kenya. His images have been published in National Geographic, Der Spiegel and The New York Times, the Discovery Channel and BBC Travel. He has lived and worked in Africa with NGOs and the United Nations.
Everyone involved is volunteering their time, energy, spaces and other resources to turn the spotlight on the foundation created by the Trevisanato family to memorialize Elena, their daughter and sibling. Fondazione Elena Trevisanato has transformed the grief of one tragic young death into a movement that gives life and hope to thousands.
Fondazione Elena Trevisanato onlus
Santa Croce 252
30135 Venezia
Tel.: +39 041 522 61 36
info@fondazione-elena.org
fondazione-elena.org
Exhibition info
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Ciao from Venezia,
Cat Bauer
Venetian Cat - The Venice Blog
"Water, Future, Life" -- Ten photographs by Axel Fassio tell ten different stories for the next ten months during an itinerary that weaves throughout the heart of Venice and Mestre to raise awareness of the ten years that the Fondazione Elena Trevisanato has been doing good deeds in Ethiopia.
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