Realized on assignment for the AVSI Foundation

Agricultural knowledge, which is preserved by family-run businesses, is handed down to refugees in the Campania region, in Italy.

Around the towns of Padula, Santa Marina and Atena Lucana, in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National park, the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project supports migrants with a contribution for socio-professional integration and the prevention of exploitation in the sector. Over the last 10 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of migrants being exploited and marginalised, including through forced labour, in Italy. The agriculture and food industry are among the economic sectors mostly exposed to the risks of irregular work and according to the latest data collected by the Federation of Agro-Industrial Workers (FLAI), out of 430.000 irregular workers, over 100.000 are victims of the so-called “Caporalato” phenomenon, a form of illegal intermediation and exploitation of migrant workers that violates minimum wage requirements and imposes inhumane working conditions. “Blooming flowers” highlights the stories of a number of refugees who were recently selected for an internship for “Innovative Training and Entrepreneurial Orientation in the agricultural field for migrants with international protection”, a project funded by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Italy and implemented by the NGO AVSI, together with the Tertium Millennium Cooperative of Teggiano, in the province of Salerno. It offers agricultural workers the opportunity to take part in training courses, gain experience in selected companies and subsequently have the chance to be hired. “Blooming flowers” underlines how a project that links fragile people, NGOs, the government, businesses and local associations (aimed at supporting migrants’ rights in the agri-food sector) can create a new path for professional growth and dignified working conditions.

Diawara Fousseyni, a 32-year-old Mali refugee with subsidiary protection, prepares the milk to feed calves in the Antica Fattoria of Giuseppe Petrizzo, where he is doing an internship thanks to the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, which is aimed at promoting socio-professional integration and preventing the exploitation of migrants in the agri-food sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Diawara Fousseyni, a 32-year-old Mali refugee with subsidiary protection, prepares the milk to feed calves in the Antica Fattoria of Giuseppe Petrizzo, where he is doing an internship thanks to the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, which is aimed at promoting socio-professional integration and preventing the exploitation of migrants in the agri-food sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Miad MD Hanif, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection, loading hay onto a wheelbarrow at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship thanks to the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, which is aimed at promoting socio-professional integration and preventing the exploitation of migrants in the agri-food sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Miad MD Hanif, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection, loading hay onto a wheelbarrow at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship thanks to the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, which is aimed at promoting socio-professional integration and preventing the exploitation of migrants in the agri-food sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Miad MD Hanif, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection, is seen dealing with livestock at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Miad MD Hanif, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection, is seen dealing with livestock at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ogbonmwan Blessing, a 31-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker, is seen at work at the “Eurogarden di Guido” centre, where she is doing an internship in agriculture. After suffering the lost of her 2-year-old son Austin, who died following a shipwreck at sea during the journey from Libya to Italy, Blessing is working hard to get her life back. She hopes to be hired at the garden centre after her internship and she dreams of having other children with her husband Moses. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ogbonmwan Blessing, a 31-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker, is seen at work at the “Eurogarden di Guido” centre, where she is doing an internship in agriculture. After suffering the lost of her 2-year-old son Austin, who died following a shipwreck at sea during the journey from Libya to Italy, Blessing is working hard to get her life back. She hopes to be hired at the garden centre after her internship and she dreams of having other children with her husband Moses. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen working in the garden at Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he is doing an internship in agriculture as a beneficiary of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, which is aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen working in the garden at Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he is doing an internship in agriculture as a beneficiary of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, which is aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen working at Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he deals with with plants care, pruning, manuring, watering, harvesting of vegetables and lawn mowing. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen working at Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he deals with with plants care, pruning, manuring, watering, harvesting of vegetables and lawn mowing. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Old pots and pans hanging from a wall at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif, is doing an internship as part of the "F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Old pots and pans hanging from a wall at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif, is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen from behind while having breakfast at the SPRAR facility for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UASC) where he lives. After losing both his parents, Samatar decided to leave his country. Together with a friend, he went to Yemen, then to Sudan and finally ended up in Libya, when the UNHCR noticed that there were migrant children in detention centers and helped him arrive in Italy through humanitarian corridors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen from behind while having breakfast at the SPRAR facility for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UASC) where he lives. After losing both his parents, Samatar decided to leave his country. Together with a friend, he went to Yemen, then to Sudan and finally ended up in Libya, when the UNHCR noticed that there were migrant children in detention centers and helped him arrive in Italy through humanitarian corridors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
The prayer room inside the facility where 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif lives. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
The prayer room inside the facility where 38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif lives. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif, is seen portrayed inside the facility where he lives. Hanif deals with livestock at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif, is seen portrayed inside the facility where he lives. Hanif deals with livestock at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Vallo di Diano from the historical centre of the town. In this area, many family-run businesses in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors, are very happy to work with refugees and to pass their knowledge on to them. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Vallo di Diano from the historical centre of the town. In this area, many family-run businesses in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors, are very happy to work with refugees and to pass their knowledge on to them. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen with his bicycle in the streets of the town where he lives, on his way to the farm where he works as a trainee. After losing both his parents, Samatar decided to leave his country and he arrived in Italy through humanitarian corridors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen with his bicycle in the streets of the town where he lives, on his way to the farm where he works as a trainee. After losing both his parents, Samatar decided to leave his country and he arrived in Italy through humanitarian corridors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sabbir Sheikh, an 18-year-old Bangladeshi migrant (on the left) and Bolas Reda Khalaf Naguib, an Egyptian unaccompanied minor (in the middle), are seen walking the streets of the town along with Amoako Kenneth, a 41-year-old Ghanaian refugee (on the right), who works as cultural mediator in the Casa Emmaus SPRAR facility in Policastro Bussentino where they are hosted. Living in a small town, these guys have often to overcome the distrust of the local elders not used to the presence of migrants. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sabbir Sheikh, an 18-year-old Bangladeshi migrant (on the left) and Bolas Reda Khalaf Naguib, an Egyptian unaccompanied minor (in the middle), are seen walking the streets of the town along with Amoako Kenneth, a 41-year-old Ghanaian refugee (on the right), who works as cultural mediator in the Casa Emmaus SPRAR facility in Policastro Bussentino where they are hosted. Living in a small town, these guys have often to overcome the distrust of the local elders not used to the presence of migrants. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, everyday rides his bicycle through the streets of the town where he lives to reach the Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he works as a trainee for the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, everyday rides his bicycle through the streets of the town where he lives to reach the Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he works as a trainee for the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif, carrying hay for livestock in a stable at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
38-year-old Bangladeshi asylum seeker with special protection Miad MD Hanif, carrying hay for livestock in a stable at Michele Cammarano’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Hanif arrived in Italy less than a year ago, having left his family and his three children in his home country. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, shows the vegetables he just harvested from the garden at Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, shows the vegetables he just harvested from the garden at Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno’s farm, where he is doing an internship as part of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sirb Mariana Cristina, wife of the owner of the “Eurogarden di Guido” centre, is seen assisting 31-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker Ogbonmwan Blessing with the pruning of the plants, one of Blessing's daily tasks as part of an internship promoted by the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural sector. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sirb Mariana Cristina, wife of the owner of the “Eurogarden di Guido” centre, is seen assisting 31-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker Ogbonmwan Blessing with the pruning of the plants, one of Blessing’s daily tasks as part of an internship promoted by the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural sector. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
32-year-old Mali refugee with subsidiary protection Diawara Fousseyni, is seen dealing with the milking of cows in the Antica Fattoria of Giuseppe Petrizzo. Diawara is one of the trainees of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
32-year-old Mali refugee with subsidiary protection Diawara Fousseyni, is seen dealing with the milking of cows in the Antica Fattoria of Giuseppe Petrizzo. Diawara is one of the trainees of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, aimed at fostering work placement of migrants in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Vallo di Diano from the historical centre of the town. In this area, many family-run businesses in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors, are very happy to work with refugees and to pass their knowledge on to them. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Vallo di Diano from the historical centre of the town. In this area, many family-run businesses in the agricultural, agri-food and livestock sectors, are very happy to work with refugees and to pass their knowledge on to them. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, blows a candle on his eighteenth birthday, at the SPRAR facility for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UASC) where he lives. After losing both his parents, Samatar decided to leave his country. Together with a friend, he went to Yemen, then to Sudan and finally ended up in Libya, when the UNHCR noticed that there were migrant children in detention centers and helped him arrive in Italy through humanitarian corridors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, blows a candle on his eighteenth birthday, at the SPRAR facility for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UASC) where he lives. After losing both his parents, Samatar decided to leave his country. Together with a friend, he went to Yemen, then to Sudan and finally ended up in Libya, when the UNHCR noticed that there were migrant children in detention centers and helped him arrive in Italy through humanitarian corridors. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
A five-a-side football match between some refugees, unaccompanied minors hosted in a facility for asylum seekers and some local kids. Sport becomes a moment of meeting point and a way to overcome distrust and create opportunities for social gathering. Atena Lucana, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
A five-a-side football match between some refugees, unaccompanied minors hosted in a facility for asylum seekers and some local kids. Sport becomes a moment of meeting point and a way to overcome distrust and create opportunities for social gathering. Atena Lucana, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
After spending the morning at the farm where he works as a trainee, 18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar loves playing football in the afternoon, near the facility for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors where he lives. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
After spending the morning at the farm where he works as a trainee, 18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar loves playing football in the afternoon, near the facility for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors where he lives. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar looks at some wheat seeds with Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno, owner of the farm of the same name, where he is doing an internship. Thanks to the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, some small businesses in the Vallo di Diano area, are contributing to the socio-professional integration of migrants in the agricultural sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar looks at some wheat seeds with Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno, owner of the farm of the same name, where he is doing an internship. Thanks to the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project, some small businesses in the Vallo di Diano area, are contributing to the socio-professional integration of migrants in the agricultural sector. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Diawara Fousseyni, a 32-year-old Mali refugee with subsidiary protection, looks at Giuseppe Petrizzo, owner of the Antica Fattoria farm, bottle-feeding a calf. Diawara takes care of the farm’s livestock on a daily basis as a trainee in the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Many family-run businesses are very happy to work with refugees and to pass their knowledge on to them. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Diawara Fousseyni, a 32-year-old Mali refugee with subsidiary protection, looks at Giuseppe Petrizzo, owner of the Antica Fattoria farm, bottle-feeding a calf. Diawara takes care of the farm’s livestock on a daily basis as a trainee in the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. Many family-run businesses are very happy to work with refugees and to pass their knowledge on to them. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ogbonmwan Blessing, a 31-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker, with her 3-year-old daughter Isabelle Ijonawan, in front of an old farmhouse, part of the System of Integration and Reception (SAI), where they currently live. After suffering the lost of her 2-year-old son Austin, who died following a shipwreck at sea during the journey from Libya to Italy, Blessing is working hard to get her life back. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ogbonmwan Blessing, a 31-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker, with her 3-year-old daughter Isabelle Ijonawan, in front of an old farmhouse, part of the System of Integration and Reception (SAI), where they currently live. After suffering the lost of her 2-year-old son Austin, who died following a shipwreck at sea during the journey from Libya to Italy, Blessing is working hard to get her life back. Santa Marina, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen walking in a wheat field with Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno, the owner of the farm where he is doing an internship in agriculture as a beneficiary of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. The project is designed to promote socio-professional integration and prevent the exploitation of migrants in the agri-food sector. Massimiliano has already expressed his willingness to hire Samatar at the end of the internship. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli
18-year-old Somali refugee Kayse Cabdilaahi Samatar, is seen walking in a wheat field with Massimiliano Bove Ferrigno, the owner of the farm where he is doing an internship in agriculture as a beneficiary of the “F.I.O.R.I. in the field” project. The project is designed to promote socio-professional integration and prevent the exploitation of migrants in the agri-food sector. Massimiliano has already expressed his willingness to hire Samatar at the end of the internship. Padula, Italy 2021. © Matteo Bastianelli

BLOOMING FLOWERS (2021)