Steve McCurry's photographs displayed in Italian schools

The Besharat Arts Foundation, founded by Iranian-born philanthropist Massoud Besharat, has placed 600 photographs by Steve McCurry in 20 primary and middle schools in Reggio Emilia and its province as part of the project 'L'arte a scuola – The Faces of innocence'. Launched in September, the initiative aims to foster empathy and curiosity among students through images depicting people worldwide, including McCurry's iconic 'Afghan Girl' from a Peshawar refugee camp. Donatella Violi, a painter and exhibition organizer, brought the project to Italy after it was successfully tested in France and the United States. Ilenia Malavasi, vice president of the Province of Reggio Emilia, praised the project for involving six municipalities and encouraging reflection on diversity and children's rights. After Reggio Emilia, the project will expand to schools in Sassari (Sardinia), Gabicce (Marche), and Puglia, through public-private collaborations.