Despite the fact that Indian legislation prohibits marriage under the age of 18, 40% of the world's child marriages occur in India. It is estimated that 47% of India's women aged 20-24 were married before the legal age of 18. In the rural villages of Rajasthan (the Indian state where child marriage is more deeply rooted) this percentage can soar up to 80%. In most Rajasthan child marriage cases, the weddings occur at very young age but the bride remains with her family until sexual maturity; only then will she actually move to her husband's family house. Despite this, most girls and boys are forced to quit school once they are married. Other risks of child marriage include premature pregnancy and consequential rise in maternal mortality, violence and abuse on behalf of husbands and husband's family members. The 2006 "Child marriage act" - which punishes with jail whoever performs or abets child marriages and allows voidance of a marriage if requested by a minor - had scarcely any effect in the villages of Rajasthan, where marriage among minors is a widespread tradition and is largely tolerated by authorities. These pictures were shot in June and July 2009 among small communities (both Hindu and Muslim) in rural villages in the Rajasthani districts of Tonk, Sawai Madhopur and Jaisalmer, where small local NGO's do their best to inform the communities of the risks involved in under age marriage in order to reduce its occurrence but have a hard time dealing with deeply rooted traditions. In most of these villages poverty is the rule: no running water, no electricity, no jobs except farming and herding. The subjects of these pictures include young boys and girls which were married under age and still live with their natural families, young married couples which live together and older couples which were married under age. HONOURABLE MENTION AT SANTA FE CENTER'S PROJECT COMPETITION: http://www.visitcenter.org/newsite/gallery.php?artist=alessandra_quadri

This pirze winning essay documents the family life of Roma gypsies in the city of Rome, Italy, part of a work in progress since September 2006. The images are shot in in various legal and illegal encampments in and around the city of Rome. The intent is to document the family lives of these people - which are discriminated and vicitims of racist persecution - and the change occurring in Roma culture with new generations which veer toward a globalized culture.

Varanasi, the sacred city of India built on the banks of the Ganges, is also called the city of Lord Shiva and has many temples dedicated to this Hindu god. These pictures were shot during Shravan month (July), dedicated to Lord Shiva, when scores of pilgrims from all around India swarm to the city for a pilgrimage to the temples. The month is so sacred that many north indians give up taking non-veg and garlic and onions during the period. One can also find many people (esp. girls) observing the famous Somvar Vrat fast on Monday, which is supposed to help them find a good husband. One can know that the month has started from the sudden urge of people to start wearing orange coloured robe and the rush to offer water & milk in the many Shiva temples of the city. The legend says that when the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthan - took place in the month of Shravan, fourteen different types of things came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the devs & demons, except Halahal (poison). Nobody was ready to touch it, while it played havoc with the ecosystem. Lord Shiva, being of a kind heart, drank the poison and stored it in his throat. Since then he is called as Neelkantha (meaning blue throat).

The clearing of Casilino 900, the biggest illegal settlment of Roma people in Europe, began on the 19th of january 2010. The last of the 700 inhabitants of this 40 year old settlment were transfered in various "legal" encampments around the Italian capital on the 15th of February in an operation that some non governmental organizations have labeled as "ethnic cleansing".

In the streets of Cairo, Alexandria, Marrakesh and other northafrican cities, women are the focus of these pictures, centered on the contrast between tradition and the needs and impulses of modern society, where women play a central role and often must find a delicate balance in order to maintain their dignity while taking advantage of new freedoms.

Life is not easy in Rome for girls who migrated with their families from Islamic countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, etc. Caught between their strong culturual traditions and the urge to fit in European society, they often find themselves suspended between two worlds and struggle to live "normal" lives and integrate maintaining their traditions without giving up their womanliness.

An unconventional view of San Lorenzo, popular neighbourhood in the center of Rome, Italy, mostly haunted by university students and dropouts, well known for its nightlife.

Serb and Bosnian families in Srebrenica (Bosnia-Erzegovina) portayed in their houses in 2007. Once they were all part of a tight community; friends and neighbours despite the ethnic and religiuos differences. Today they are separated and do not speak to each other.