The Exhibition

Nuns Healing Hearts documents the tireless work of the Talitha Kum, an international network  of nuns working against human trafficking. Founded in 2009 by the International Union of Superiors General in Rome (UISG), it is comprised of 43 national sister-led networks covering 77 countries, in 5 continents. It involves approximately 2,000 religious’ women, men, and their collaborators. The mission of Talitha Kum is to end human trafficking through collaborative actions focused mainly on prevention, protection, and social rehabilitation.

Human Thread Foundation Founder Lisa Kristine has been documenting the work of this network for nearly two years. She traveled to countries such as Italy, the Philippines, Thailand, Guatemala, the United States, and Mexico to experience firsthand the committed work of these consecrated women, who have dedicated their lives to rescue victims from human trafficking.

The campaign seeks to put real faces on a hidden and unjust reality. The initiative and corresponding exhibition will be launched in the Paul VI Hall and will be the final event of the XXI Plenary Assembly of the UISG, which is currently in session in Rome. The Pope, in the presence of 850 Superiors General, will view the special photographic exhibition and bless the images that reflect the efforts, pains and joys of the sisters involved in this apostolate. After its launch in the Vatican, the exhibition will be moved to the UISG headquarters located in Rome, a few steps from St. Peter’s Square, where it will remain there until July 10.

The Nuns Healing Hearts exhibition was made possible thanks to the amazing support of the Galileo Foundation, the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and of course, all of the amazing women of the Talitha Kum.

A percentage of the profits from this solo exhibition go to support the work of the Talitha Kum network and their aim to train and empower 600 new religious as leaders in their communities around the world, helping them to identify and combat situations where trafficking occurs every day. In addition to ensuring the rehabilitation of between 500 and 800 survivors of this crime, during the coming year, they will address the social and psychological needs of victims through education and training programs and other activities.

It will also be possible to return each year to their homes or to a safe place, at least 100 survivors caught in emergency situations. Another goal is to increase the impact of networks by 20 percent over the next 5 years, especially where the need is greatest, by collaborating locally and nationally with other networks and partners. A pilot project is also planned to improve communication between anti-trafficking networks in countries of origin, transit, and destination and to enhance the capacity to collect data effectively, securely and confidentially. To learn more about their work or to donate directly, visit NunsHealingHearts.org.

The Nuns Healing Hearts exhibition is available from the Human Thread Foundation as a solo exhibition, or as part of the Bound to Freedom exhibition.

Human Thread Foundation’s exhibition of Nuns Healing Hearts is not intended to imply any other relationship or association with, or endorsement or sponsorship of the Talitha Kum, the Catholic Church or any other religious organization.

0M
people enslaved globally
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of people enslaved are under the age of 18
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dollars generated by slavery annually

“The photographic exhibition was born from our meetings, accompanied by exchanges, prayer, reflections on how to eradicate human trafficking, and how best to act in a network… Our intense work together with photographer Lisa Kristine has produced in these photographs’ images of hope. The colors and themes of the photographs open a profound window to the sacred, to the beauty that illuminates and sustains our humanity”

Sister Gabriella Bottani, International Coordinator, Talitha Kum

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