OR EDU

Madeleine would rather go to school but since two years she is working… Everyday, she rows her wooden skiff out into Gaza's heavily-patrolled waters. Her father, fisherman himself, was suddenly struck with palsy and cannot fish anymore. Since she is 16 years old, as the eldest child, she has to assume the role of feeding her family. Madeleine managed to make her way in a man-dominated world. In the Gaza strip, women rarely venture to the sea even just to swim. Her brother, Qaid and Karim and her sister Rim help her when they are not at school. Madeleine, probably the only woman fishing in Gaza, dreams that, in a few years, she might be able to go back to school and university.

Dahab, the « gold » island on the Nile close to downtown Cairo, is an all different story. This 5 km length strip represents the green lung of the crazy 18 millions inhabitants capital... No car to be seen here, the only access is by boat and once on the island the only transport: donkey. The inhabitants of Dahab till little pieces of land. There is no official representation on the island, neither school, hospital, or police station. Muslims and Christians live here together in a pretty harmonious atmosphere. They share a comon fight to stay on the island. The government wants to modernize this land, eventually to transform it in a touristic place free of fellahs. Since 2001, the « fellahs » are resisting to the pressure of the government to leave their land.

Rafah the Palestinian, Rafah the Egyptian; the city has been divided since 1982, when a peace agreement between Israël and Egypt was signed. For many years, the border between Egypt and the Gaza strip could be crossed. But for more than ten years, the city has been cut into two parts by the Philadelphia corridor and “official” crossing is very difficult. The Keshta clan lives on both sides of the border. This family is originally from Rafah, but the border has isolated them and reduced their exchanges. Most of the men from this clan work in the smuggling tunnels, binding them to their Egyptian brothers. The women stay home with their children. They consider this work far too dangerous, yet they have no other choice than to send their sons. Since the blockade imposed by Israel in 2007, after Hamas took over power in the Gaza Strip, this area has been full of smuggling tunnels. Oum Ahmed Keshta lives in the Philadelphia corridor with her husband and 6 children. They turned their garden into a tunnel four years ago. Her husband and sons are working in this tunnel bringing ciment. Oum Bilal Keshta lives a few meters further. Her son built his own tunnel in his room. From the roof of her house, she points to white tents, all hiding tunnels and in the distance, on the other side of the border, she points at some drying clothes...on her sister’s balcony.

Ikuru: this picture is telling a lot to me and in the same time gives me a lot of emotion. The contradictory to me of him being in what look like a classroom but with military uniform. The uniform just a little bit too big for him but him keeping it proud. Actually, I like the whole serie, I think you should keep working on it. Do you know the work of Anastasia Taylor Lind on this subject? http://www.viiphoto.com/vii_network.html

Oksana: I love the look on this boy face, the light, the atmosphere of this pic that in a way put me in a unease feeling. I also very much like the whole series.

Mikail: This image seems to come out of a cartoon of my childhood. It brings a lot of stories to me. I think it is a great introduction to your story that I like a lot.

Victor: Great, sad, lost feeling out of this pic. I like it a lot.

Alexey: Great portrait, very intriguing, coming out of an other time.

Anastasia: Excellent. Patrick said why already. Thought the same. Very melancholic to me.

Valeiry: I like this picture because it is suggesting a lot! It allows me to imaging a lot of the rest, what else is there. Open to think.

Joao: Love what is for me a so usual scene.

Tanya: I love this. It doesn't look real. They made a point with their costume and you showing them. I am in the fairy tale. Even, if it looks a little bit to me like a sad one.

Eduardo: I love this. Also very suggesting and when u understand it is a tent it feels very symbolizing the whole situation. Carry a lot of emotion.

Happy new year to all.

Ikuru: this picture is telling a lot to me and in the same time gives me a lot of emotion. The contradictory to me of him being in what look like a classroom but with military uniform. The uniform just a little bit too big for him but him keeping it proud. Actually, I like the whole serie, I think you should keep working on it. Do you know the work of Anastasia Taylor Lind on this subject? http://www.viiphoto.com/vii_network.html

Oksana: I love the look on this boy face, the light, the atmosphere of this pic that in a way put me in a unease feeling. I also very much like the whole series.

Mikail: This image seems to come out of a cartoon of my childhood. It brings a lot of stories to me. I think it is a great introduction to your story that I like a lot.

Victor: Great, sad, lost feeling out of this pic. I like it a lot.

Alexey: Great portrait, very intriguing, coming out of an other time.

Anastasia: Excellent. Patrick said why already. Thought the same. Very melancholic to me.

Valeiry: I like this picture because it is suggesting a lot! It allows me to imaging a lot of the rest, what else is there. Open to think.

Joao: Love what is for me a so usual scene.

Tanya: I love this. It doesn't look real. They made a point with their costume and you showing them. I am in the fairy tale. Even, if it looks a little bit to me like a sad one.

Eduardo: I love this. Also very suggesting and when u understand it is a tent it feels very symbolizing the whole situation. Carry a lot of emotion.

Happy new year to all.