The gaze of the other. Alessio Boni tells Uganda

Giving voice to those who are fleeing war and have lost everything. This is the theme of “ Lo sguardo dell'altro - Palabek, Uganda ”, the documentary film by and starring Alessio Boni , 58, from Sarnico, Bergamo, one of the major actors in Italian cinema and theatre. It is an exclusive production for the humanitarian organisation Cesvi , born from the actor's direct experience in the refugee camp located in northern Uganda, and where the NGO founded in Bergamo (where it is based) has been operating since 2017. Through images collected in the field, testimonies and an authentic and engaging story, Lo sguardo dell'altro gives voice to those who have been forced to flee war and hunger. Every day, men, women and children arrive exhausted at the border with Uganda, fleeing from South Sudan , a country marked by years of conflict and violence, which have forced millions of inhabitants to leave their homes. Their odyssey is a real struggle for survival, and for many the Palabek refugee camp, which hosts over 91,000 refugees, represents their last hope. "Here, despite the great difficulties - explains Boni, Cesvi ambassador - they are welcomed, they are provided with land, training, means of support to be able to rebuild a dignified life. Cesvi is at their side offering tools and opportunities in the field of agriculture and entrepreneurship, especially for women. It helps these people to hope again. I was astonished by this reality which, despite a thousand difficulties, is a starting point for many refugees who have lost everything". Among the refugees, over 75,500 (83%) are women and children, often affected by serious forms of malnutrition caused by the lack of food.

Michael Andreucci