Edusaster

© Michele Camicia

One in four of the world’s school-age children live in countries affected by humanitarian crises such as conflicts, natural disasters and disease outbreaks. About 78 million children are either already missing out on their education, receiving poor-quality schooling or at risk of dropping out of school altogether.

Education is one of society’s foundations, but it is severely tested in crisis contexts like the 2023 earthquake in Turkey or the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Edusaster is a powerful testament to the resilience and hope of young students affected by humanitarian crises. In a compelling narrative, the stories of students clutching their backpacks tightly—symbols of a future they refuse to abandon- are interwoven with images of destroyed schools, devastated by events that seem determined to erase any possibility of learning.

The backpacks, held tightly by these children and adolescents, stand as a powerful symbol of defiance. They hold not only their dreams, books, and pens but also represent the restart of the education process. Just as backpacks are used to carry essential learning tools, they also carry the weight of hope and the will to rebuild, serving as a beacon for a brighter future amidst the ruins. Each photograph of a student with their backpack is a testament to their determination and resistance against the loss of normality and safety.

Contrasting the sweetness and fragility of these young lives are the images of destroyed educational facilities, now reduced to empty skeletons. Each damaged structure carries the weight of interrupted education, of places once filled with life, voices, laughter, and learning. However, their presence in the project does not represent destruction alone; it is also the strength of rebuilding, with each backpack symbolising survival and the promise of starting anew.

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