The comfort we find in words is immeasurable. They bring us joy, imagination and hope. They bring us safety, health and opportunity. Nearly 800 million people around the world are illiterate, and two thirds are women and girls. For them, that hope and opportunity remain locked behind words.
Last night in Madrid the I Femme project was officially launched to draw a picture of modern, independent, liberal and successful women of the 21st century through photography. The project was initiated by Vietnamese fine art photographer Viet Ha Tran and Ukrainian Tetyana Kretova, co-founder and creative director of fashion brand Simplifi.
A selection of the artwork on display at the I Femme launch
The launch event featured the artwork of I Femme, a collection of striking portraits described as emphasising ‘fantasy and imagination’. Also portrayed in each photograph was a determination in each woman to take control of her own destiny. The objective of the project is to empower that.
The I Femme artwork will be acquired by art collectors, galleries, museums and advocates of charity organisations. 100% of the profit from the sales of each piece will be directly donated to Room to Read, a non-profit organisation which helps to build schools for poor children in developing countries throughout Asia. They also provide scholarships for girls without access to education.
The project’s aim is to develop and nurture girls’ talent through literacy and education. Just Landed had the privilege to contribute to this aim and were present at last night’s event. Also among the guests was Madhumita, a young woman from India who is a living testament to the power of words and gave a voice to the core values of the I Femme project.
Madhumita spoke with a sincerity that touched everyone listening, but more importantly she spoke with pride and self-belief. Words had transported her from the streets of Kolkata to the classrooms of a Masters programme in Madrid – from a young, vulnerable girl to a woman with her future in her own hands. You can read Madhumita’s full story here.
Projects like I Femme are invaluable in ensuring that stories like Madhumita’s need not be experienced by other women, but instead only the opportunities and self-determination she has fought for are shared.
You can find out more about the project, buy artwork and donate to the cause at ifemme.org.