Phototherapy: Second Edition of the Face and the Voice of Time 
The photographs provide instant history, sociology immediate
immediate participation.
(Susan Sontag )
The Face and the Voice of Time - A Bridge between generations is an education project that aims to create the Great Age, through photography, a bridge to promote generational approach, dialogue and understanding between young and old, and is an attempt to summarize in a single project two different types of intervention: on the one hand, the therapeutic
photography and other animation community.
The decision to use the photograph with the elderly has grown during the training course for leaders in nursing homes, built in the city of Ancona in the first months of 2003. The idea, initially very vague, took shape as they are aware of other similar cases in other countries, especially England and France.
In preparing the project was essential to compare and exchange views with other photographers and animators, with psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and educators who are interested in photography as a therapeutic and personal growth.
From 2003 to 2005 I was able to practice and experience, evaluate, adjust and refine the initial design through my work animator on several homes in the province of Ancona. This professional experience has been incorporated into a broader theoretical framework, thanks to the contributions of teachers and students of the Master's degree in communication and nonverbal
University Ca 'Foscari of Venice I was privileged to attend 2006 to 2007. I have been particularly useful, to make a more reflective practitioner, the teachings of Professor Ivana
Padoan, Professor of Umberto Galimberti, Paolo Puppa, Lino Vianello, Mario Umberto Margiotta and Paolini, who always remain for me as theoretical reference points.
In this second edition, 2009, the lengthening Middle School will have the opportunity to learn
elderly nuns of the Convent of the Franciscan Missionary of Loreto, which are very happy with the prospect of making new friends. Le Marche Region of nursing homes who wish to participate in this new location can contact the project organizers at:
voltodeltempo@gmail.com or ask to 'Blue Bridge Association
ponteblu@gmail.com Alternatively they can contact
Ayres Marques number: 3337252302.
How to introduce the project
Each nursing home has its specific features that are observed and respected and who show us the best way to introduce the project within a broader intervention of animation.
In some cases it was the music to provide the pretext to begin the task of photo therapy. By listening to "songs of the past" have given way to remember that those songs evoked. Was recovered from the memories the pictures of the singers of that period. From the photos of the singers was then arrived at the old photos of guests and, finally, the pictures of this.
In other cases the photos were taken during the celebration of birthdays to offer an excuse to ask the hosts to show their old photos and then tell their stories.
course of the project
Whatever procedures followed to introduce the project, there are four stages in its development.
1 ª Fase
Guests at the nursing home are photographed at different times of day. These photos are shown to the elderly and serve as an excuse to tell their story and to stimulate them with the help of family members searching for old photos and construct their "scrapbook." This activity encourages the deepening of relations between the elderly and their families, guests and professionals and volunteers).
addition, the organization of the album is a valuable tool to support the reality orientation therapy, helps to strengthen the sense of personal identity and thus increases self-esteem enhanced host who sees his memory.
Eventually all the elderly are involved, according to the different degrees of participation that their physical and mental conditions permit.
photos selected from the same old, are then presented to school children of the parish or the surrounding area.
Each boy is asked to choose the photo of an elderly person and observe closely. Then, use your imagination to create a biography of the person portrayed in the photo choice. He then asked the boy to accompany his photo to that of the elderly.
Symbolically, boy and older creating a consistent approach that will allow for emotional meeting at a deeper level between the two.
2 ª Fase
Biographies imaginary are discussed with the children and the elderly and serve as preparation for the meeting between them. At this time the guest has a final chance to speak about, in response to inputs provided by the fictional story of the boy and providing the animator with the help of family members and operators, the elements to write his biography.
After the boys are invited to visit the nursing home to finally know the subjects of biographies of imaginary person, in order to compare them with their real stories.
This meeting will lay the groundwork for further visits and future correspondence. These intergenerational exchanges help to create a synergy of knowledge and to prevent isolation of the elderly institutionalized.
3 ª Fase
We organize exhibitions in the municipalities involved in the project, which details the photos of children and the elderly, imaginary biographies, reflections on the meeting of boys and bios of the elderly.
The exhibition itself becomes an animation that stimulates the participation of all stakeholders in the intervention.
Each show, which may flank a seminar on the Great Age, offers the opportunity to present the project to a wider section of the community, but also creates another opportunity for meeting the boys, their families and friends with the elderly and their relatives, with the operators of nursing homes, the teachers, educators and representatives of the parishes of public and private institutions.
4 ª Fase
In this last phase of the project is intended to develop an interactive website, including text and photos of the elderly and children, to facilitate communication between them and the experience made even more visible.
To do this, is edited and published a booklet which contains photos and biographies, analysis of texts on therapeutic implications, sociological and pedagogical material produced during the course of the project.
The operating volume may look like notebook for use by other boys and at the same time as a guide for leaders and teachers who want to enter this path of education to the great age in their leaders and educational interventions.
