VENITE A TROVARCI!
REFUGEE scART e' all'AMA Roma S.p.A.
Piazzale dei Caduti della Montagnola 40 - 00142 Roma
This is a humanitarian project in cooperation with Centro Astalli (JRS) and Laboratorio 53
with patronage from
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, South of Europe Office
ERRI DE LUCA dice di Refugee scART, Settembre 2011 “Stazione Termini dove si smistano i destini di chi ha azzardato tutto per sbarcare. In un locale offerto dalla solidarietà pura una squadra di rifugiati, undici, raccoglie plastica buttata via e la trasforma in oggetti utili e anche belli. Un laboratorio di pochi utensili dà scopo, dignità e valore alle loro mani buone a tutto. In un solo mese Spiral Foundation ha aperto un'altra breccia nel muro dell'isolamento facendo circolare l'aria fresca della fraternità.”
ERRI DE LUCA says of Refugee scART, September 2011
“Termini Station, Rome, where the destinies of those whom have risked all in order to disembark are shunted. In a space offered purely through solidarity, a group of refugees, eleven in all, collects discrded plastic and transforms it into objects that are not only useful, but also beautiful. A laboratory of few tools forms purpose, dignity, and value by hands skilled for all. In a single month Spiral Foundation has opened yet another crack in the wall of isolation, circulating the fresh air of fraternity and compassion.”
ERRI DE LUCA dice di Refugee scART, Febbraio 2012
"Benvenuto al peggio che ti offriamo. Insieme al peggio che l'Italia offre ai rifugiati, possiamo anche offrire loro l'incontro con Marichia. Perche' Marichia si e' messa alla Stazione Termini a trafficare con degli oggetti di plastica e a prendere qualcuno di questi rifugiati che non avevano niente da fare e li ha messi in condizione di imparare qualcosa.
E' incredibile quanto sia facile fare questo gioco con la plastica e trasformarla in oggetti non grezzi, non primitivi, ma utili, eleganti e perfino divertenti.
E' incredibile la possibilità' che queste cose succedano da noi, improvvisamente, semplicemente come una scintilla. Il funzionamento e' quello di una candela, una candela che ne può accendere solamente un'altra alla volta, non tutte insieme, non come la corrente elettrica che accende con una sola lampadina tante candele insieme, ma una candela per volta. Marichia e' riuscita ad accedere nove candele e a fare di questo piccolo gioco della la plastica un lavoro redditizio, utile e che permettere a delle persone, questi nostri amici di REFUGEE scART, di sentirsi come uomini degni, utili, oltre che accolti".
ERRI DE LUCA says of Refugee scART, February 2012
“Welcome to the worst we offer to you. Together with the worst that Italy offers its refugees, we can also offer an encounter with Marichia. For Marichia put herself at Termini Railway Station to mess around with some plastic and to gather some of these refugees with little else to do, and she placed them in a position to learn something new.
It’s incredible how easy it can be to play this game of plastic and to transform it into objects that are not rough nor crude, not primitive, but useful, elegant and even fun.
It’s incredible that it’s possible for these things to happen among us, suddenly, like a spark. It’s the work of a candle, a candle that lights others one at a time, not all at once, not like an electric current that with one bulb lights many candles together, but one candle at a time. Marichia has managed to light nine candles and to turn this little game of plastic into work that is profitable, useful and that allows a few people, our friends here from REFUGEE scART, to feel human, dignified and purposeful, in as much as feeling welcome.”
Steven Spielberg Interview on SPIRAL Foundation, ARTribe event, May 2008
The S.P.I.R.A.L Foundation is a registered non-profit corporation
in the state of California, Federal Tax ID Number 95-4740304 and has received
tax exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The S.P.I.R.A.L. Foundation's operations in Vietnam and Nepal are inspired by the principle of "Aid from within the Country". Since 1999, The S.P.I.R.A.L. Foundation has financed humanitarian aid projects with the proceeds generated by income producing handicraft workshops. Currently 1000 Vietnamese and Nepalese are employed with fair wages based on an hourly rate and not on piece-work.
All net proceeds from the handicraft sales are returned to Vietnam and Nepal to
fund primary health care, medical and educational projects, giving to those involved in the production process a sense of pride that comes by helping and sustaining many others, in even greater need than themselves. Members of all The Spiral Foundation Workshops have an active role in the allocation and monitoring of all funds generated by proceeds from the sales of The Spiral Foundation Gift Line.
Currently more than 180 gift items designed by The Spiral Foundation are produced in Vietnam and Nepal and successfully selling worldwide.
All items are produced with a consciousness towards the environment. Discarded
materials are often used for or incorporated in our gift line. All items are produced with a consciousness towards the preservation and the revival of the local handicraft traditions.
Full transparency in all accounting with all workshop members, with all beneficiaries of the humanitarian aid funding and with all involved in the resale market.