Towards integration: Photo and documentary exhibition

The International Community Lavalla200> of Syracuse, in Italy, organizes a photographic and documentary exhibition, from May 10 to June 15, called “Towards Integration”.

On the evening of Friday 10th May, during the opening of the exhibition, was also launched a book with the title “Verso l’integrazione” (Towards integration) that presents professional photo-portraitsof 26 recently arrived young immigrants and a personal account of the journey of eight of them.

The book describes the circumstances that drove the migrants to leave home, the journey through Libya across the Mediterranean to Italy, and their reception and current hopes. It contains also a scan-video links to five of these young men, speaking in Italian (with sub-titles available): 

The book, videos and exhibition are strategies for giving these young people a name and a voice in a place like Europe where their welcome is not secure and has been strongly politicised.

The project is the work of Mario Araya Olguín and Rosa Schiaffino Fdez-Crehuet, with Br Ricardo (Ricky) Gómez Rincón providing creative assistance in mounting the exhibition.

The Marist Community of Siracusa belongs to the Lavalla200> Project and works with recently- arrived migrants, especially unaccompanied minors. The members of the Community are Gabriel Bernardo da Silva (Brasil Centro-Sul), Mario Araya (Santa María de los Andes), Br. Onorino Rota (Mediterránea), Regina Biasibetti (Brasil Sul-Amazônia), Br. Ricky Gomez (Norandina), Rosa Maria Schiaffin (Mediterránea).

Since January the Marist Community of Syracuse works in the International Center of Help and Orientation (CIAO). It is a Center of help and intercultural orientation dedicated to the immigrant young people and refugees.