Benedetta on an extremely hot morning in Stromboli island. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.

Giuseppe Moccia

Upon Wind We’ll Set the Sails

Emanuele takes a morning swim, Elba Island, Italy, 2012. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
The boatswain of Nave Italia – the third, in weight order, sailing school of the Italian Navy corps – unfolds a map of the island Elba to show it to Fabrizio, sat in the background. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
Fabrizio, supported by a waving plastic bag held by Romina, is looking for wind’s direction. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.ts.
We had just left the harbour of the Porto di Roma for one of the first training sessions and Ilaria, Romina and Valerio (L-R) were tuning in with the wind and the sun. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants.
Benedetta navigates La Poste during a training session near Elba Island, Italy, 2011. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
Benedetta enjoys the sea breeze on the nose of Arisitidine. July 2010. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
Giordana checks her mobile before going to sleep. July 2010. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
Annalisa enjoys the sea breeze at the sun set on board of Nave Italia – the third, in weight order, sailing school of the Italian Navy corps. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
(L-R) Francesco, Emanuele, Cristiana and Matteo take a shower in the port of Porto Ferraio, Elba Island, Italy, 2012. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.

 

“Upon wind we’ll set the sails” is an exhibition curated by Annalisa D’Angelo, combining the personal diaries of the rookies of the Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome (AIPD) sailing program along with Giuseppe Moccia’s photographic documentation of the students. Since 2005, AIPD has been running an educational curriculum that works in tandem with the sailing school, using the boat’s environment to challenge the adaptive shills of its participants. Amidst their peers and away from the comfort zone of their families, the students work in direct contact with nature to become autonomous key players of an unforgettable adventure. Since 2007 Giuseppe Moccia has joined a number of crews in order to compose an intimate and personal narrative of the student’s journey.  On April 4, 2014 the work will be displayed in an exhibition financed by the Department of Equal Rights, along with the launching of a self-published book.

 

Fabrizio and Matteo
Nicola, enjoys the rough weather on board of La Poste, Elba Island, Italy, 2011. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
Bendetta enjoys a swim in the open waters of the Aeolian Islands. July 2010. Since 2006, Rome’s branch of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome is running a sailing program for young adults. Rather than being a sailing school, the program uses the boat environment to challenge the adaptive skills of its participants. In 2012 a group of the eight most proficient users were selected to join up with the official team of Mascalzone Latino to participate, on board of La Poste as a mixed crew, for the historical Barcolana sailing race. La Poste scored and amazing 24th position among more than 1000 participants.
Francesco
Gennaro and Benedetta, in the background, enjoy a swim in to the sea of Ginostra. July 2010.
CLAUDIA
 

Bio

Giuseppe Moccia was born in Naples in 1978. He grew up in Rome and graduated in International Economics at the Università Commerciale L. Bocconi in Milan. In 2007, Giuseppe started a personal project on social inclusion for people affected by Down syndrome which received international recognitions such as the “PhotoEspana-Ojodepez Human Value Award” and the “Flashforward” for emerging photographers from the Magenta Foundation (Canada). Giuseppe is currently working on a long-term project following the changes of the anthropic landscape in Italy.

 

Related Links

Giuseppe Moccia

7 thoughts on “Giuseppe Moccia – Upon Wind We’ll Set the Sails”

  2. Cesar

    Great job. I´m from Spain and I saw your exhibition “The Wednesday Kid” when you won the “PhotoEspana-Ojodepez Human Value Award”. I like above all, pictures 2, 4, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 23.
    Saludos!

  5. Gordon Lafleur

    Beautifully done. As a photographer, and the parent of an adult child with special needs, I applaud your efforts here. You have depicted your subjects with sensitivity and avoided stereotyping them. Bravo.

Comments are closed.