Heroes in the shadow - Documentary production
Regardless of country, culture, or even decade the mother and the human relationship with their mother is one of the most important and primitive relationships. Mothers, inherently, give everything to their families; body, mind, and spirit to create a life in which their offspring can thrive.
Can you imagine the intense stress, pain, difficulties, and even joy that mothers face while raising children in the largest favela in Latin America?
Brazil is a society with deeply rooted machismo ideals, with traditional family structures, men go to work and women take care of the family. However, in favelas, lack of traditional job opportunities leads to most men joining the gangs, ending up in jail or dead, leaving the majority of the women from Rocinha to play both the role of father and mother. Furthermore, with a lack of education, most women have multiple kids from multiple fathers and in many cases find themselves rising upwards of 5 kids alone. However, these mothers are very much the family patriarchs and always lead their family forward.
The local team of student photographers, lead by Florian Tomasini, had the opportunity to document the daily lives of mothers from the favela, observing the daily struggles and precious moments of joy that mothers from Rocinha encounter on a daily basis. The sliver of hope, the reason to continue pushing forward is their desire to give their children a better life, simply give them the opportunity to have a choice, to choose what they want to do. In favelas life is not easy, opportunity does not come knocking, it is those who work daily for an unguaranteed chance to break out of their destiny of being a maid, housewife, or drug trafficker that may have a chance, a chance to simply choose their future.
This project was directed by Florian Tomasini and produced by the ACE photography team, Luiz Breno, Sofia Rodrigues Lopes, and Isabela Dos Reis. Luiz, Sofia, and “Isa” were chosen because they have truly been enamored with the opportunity to participate in photography classes, and have developed strong professionalism in their work. It is ACE hope that they will continue to inspire their peers as their work is displayed throughout Europe, sharing their message, vision, and starting to change perspectives about what it means to be from a favela.
A.C.e - HEAD OF MEDIA
Through sport, education, and therapy, ACE empowers children in impoverished areas. ACE helps them reach their maximum potential, break social barriers, and provides the necessary tools for youth to develop both mentally and physically in order to make foundational changes in their future and future of their countries.
Favela experience - Content producer
contents producer
Favela Experience is a for-profit social enterprise that provides culturally immersive tours and cultural experiences to travellers, students and volunteers in favelas, Brazil’s most fascinating urban communities.
Favela inc - contents producer
Favela Inc incubates and accelerates favela based ecosystems by empowering and educating local entrepreneurs and organizations into the gamechangers of tomorrow. We are an NGO that provides favela entrepreneurs, non-profits and social projects with high level capacity building in the areas of project management, financial education, digital marketing and English.
nova era - contents producer
Nova Era is a vibrant, community-based space, designed to cultivate innovation and knowledge where travelers can thrive in their professional and personal journey. It is based in Vidigal, a well known favela in Rio de Janeiro.
Olivier, life lesson - Youth award festival off visa, France
Tobota Ague, little town where the wouêmenou people live, opened its door and its secrets in December 2014. Far from the city, in the middle of the savanna, without clean water or electricity, this society is still living a basic rural routine. People are facing difficulties for health care and education. For Olivier, 14 years old back in 2013, like for one part of his comrade, the education desire guided by the urban life research, can be confusing for them. A lot of children and teenagers leave the school to stay in Tigbota-Agué, close to their family, in dismay of the professors think that creates a "stagnant mediocrity". I would like to say that, I was the first photographer who came in the village and the first one being sleeping at a local people room.The wouêmenous were really curious and surprised to see a white guy,"a yovo", getting out in a morning from Olivier's house. I am so grateful Romain Ferrer, Aurélie Castillo and Yannich Capuano, the nurses team, for the opportunity you gave to me to live this incredible human experience. Because of them and the wouêmenous tribe, my way of life and way of capturing emotions through my camera evolved a lot.
Retrato do mundo - Exhibited in Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro
Don faré in Benin - Social & health project
After years of traveling, learning photography at the same time, I have finally been able to create my own exhibition.
This project is regrouping some of the most impactful people I have met on the road. All the photos are in black and white to make people guess where each character is from. Let's break some stereotypes.
I am so proud to say that my pictures have already been exposed in Sao Paulo at @casajaya and in Rio de Janeiro at @olhodarua06
Thanks for all your support.
The Don Faré nurses team have been in Tobota Ague, little town where the wouêmenou people live. They were giving health care, educating people about it and managing the nursery development. Here is a piece from my work there.
