Germinal

When I started this project, I couldn’t have predicted where it would take me. Immigrating to another country, I had to start everything from scratch. It reminded me of my grandad who, in his forties, had fled from his war-torn hometown, leaving his whole life behind. The end and the beginning had, for both of us, the same taste—a mixture of humility and hope.

Thinking about Germinal, my intention was to share that experience of resilience, perseverance, and hope. However, when I heard the stories of women invited to take part in this project, my perspective shifted. The photo sessions transformed from simply taking pictures into long discussions. I evolved from being a photographer to a listener, hearing accounts of homelessness, loss of loved ones, and being left to die after a night with a group of strangers that went traumatically wrong. Memories too personal and too intimate to share.

This project tells the stories of young women. Each of them faced moments that shattered their worlds, yet they found the courage to stand, to hope, and to rebuild. Their scars became muscles and a force that propelled them forward.

It’s a living project. In photographs, I captured vulnerability and strength, but the selection evolves as every new encounter adds a fresh perspective.