1000 VOICES-VOCES-VOIX

INTRODUCTION

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This book was born back when I was 15, the day I found myself talking with my closest friends, opening up about their stories, their pain, their lives and their resilience. I began a journey that taught me many amazing lessons I would like to share with you in this book. It was extremely sad to get to know that some of the people I loved so much had gone through so much suffering and abuse. 

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I was especially shocked to see that girls who were incredibly beautiful, strong of character, seemingly careless, were the ones who had suffered the most. Just for being girls! Those girls laughed during the breaks as if sorrow had never touched them; they were the ones who faced the harshest challenges and, yet, they were amazingly dignified and strong. They had a fierce determination to thrive and showed profound compassion towards others.

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Talking about our experiences was the first step to healing. We shared hidden tears but also solutions that began to appear timidly at first, like fireflies, as if hope were playing hide and seek. But later, put together, those fireflies became a bonfire that warmed us all; soon, that bonfire turned into a bright light strong enough to chase all darkness away.

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I felt that the way to change from victim to victor was possible only by taking the first step: breaking our silence more publicly. I needed to find some sort of voice for myself and for so many teenagers who don’t have it, those silenced by oppression, by their families living through domestic violence, by their bad friends, by their abusive fathers, by bad judges, etc.

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The etymology of “infant” is “not able to speak.” This may be true for toddlers but children and teenagers should have a voice; they should be able to speak about their feelings, opinions and dreams but also about their wounds, the abuse we suffered. So when I was 16, I decided to write this book.

In A THOUSAND VOICES, I share the stories my friends told me during school breaks, chatting on the phone, at school or when a teacher was missing one class even when coming back home together. Naturally, names and most circumstances have been changed so as to protect my friends’ privacy and confidentiality. Every story is told in first person (even though these anecdotes did not actually happen to me). The images are also the product of a collective effort: Pixabay, where thousands of photographers share their art on a non-profit basis. BIG THANK YOU!

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I hope this book can help other kids/teens who are going through difficult times.

You can read it alone, with your friends, in a peer group, in a self-help group or even in a group facilitated by a teacher at school or counselor. Each story can be read separately and, if in a group, you might want to follow the suggestions included before the accounts. 

I have hope in myself, in my family, in this world and in you to open your eyes and ears, to stop turning your head and ignore what is going on with today's youth. Hundreds of generations of kids have suffered; my generation has suffered, and the new ones are as well, but but we can have a voice and together, we can listen, support and make a change.