The International Festival of Travel and Adventure Literature (Periplo) hosts the exhibition 'Travesías', which will be open until next Sunday, October 25th, in the Meridianos section. The exhibition, supported by the Government of the Canary Islands, features the work of journalist José Naranjo and photographer Juan Luis Rod, who have given voice to the experiences of children and adolescents who arrived alone on the islands.
During the opening ceremony, the Vice-Minister of the President's Cabinet, Octavio Caraballo, emphasized the importance of listening directly to these minors. "On few occasions have we heard them speak in the first person about their experience," he stated, highlighting the need to understand their stories, dreams, and the difficulties they face to break down prejudices and borders.
The project, recognized with the CEAR Award, was developed across five countries, four islands, eight reception centers, and involved 13 minors and their families. Caraballo described the work of Rod and Naranjo as "magnificent" for "capturing realities, testimonies, and first-person lives" of these adolescents who arrived via the Atlantic Route.
The Vice-Minister recalled that the Government of the Canary Islands continues to advocate before the governments of Spain and Brussels for the creation of a European system of comprehensive protection, with mandatory relocation and stable funding for aspects such as education, healthcare, and mental health.
The exhibition, previously shown at Casa África during May and June, consists of a hundred snapshots compiled in a photobook and an audiovisual work. The project received recognition at the 10th edition of the CEAR Awards for its commitment to defending the right to asylum and solidarity with refugees.
