UBUNTU

The word Ubuntu is derived from the Bantu languages of South Africa and roughly means: “I am because we are” or “humanity towards others.” The core idea behind it is that a person becomes fully human through others and through the community that embraces and shares the human experience.

I chose the name UBUNTU for this image because it is the name of the place or nursery that the children attend, where their fathers, mothers, or both together bring them early in the morning before going to work or attending Italian language lessons, as part of their journey to integrate into Italian society and obtain residency and Italian citizenship.

This image is also part of a series captured with a traditional macro lens, focusing on children migrating from Africa to Europe. It was inspired by moving stories I heard from their parents — stories of fleeing the horrors of war and famine in Africa, and the perilous smuggling journeys undertaken by some parents or the children themselves.

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