EVENTS
Art becomes solidarity
to support disabled children & women in Ethiopia
Art as a tool for social change and hope. This is the spirit of the online charity art auction promoted by the ‘Made in Italy & Int’l. Friends’ social network, accepting bids from Tuesday, May 12th through Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
An initiative open to all, with the aim of raising funds and shedding light on the plight of high-needs disabled children and women in Ethiopia.
The auction will feature works donated by internationally renowned artists. The funds raised will support high-impact programs, from pediatric rehabilitation and early intervention to the provision of mobility aids such as wheelchairs and crutches, and vocational training initiatives aimed specifically at women with disabilities, to foster their independence and social participation.
The Addis Guzo project was created to address urgent, yet often invisible, needs: access to healthcare, rehabilitation, training, and inclusion opportunities. These obstacles, in already fragile contexts, multiply and risk permanently compromising the quality of life of the most vulnerable. All proceeds from the auction will go to “Addis Guzo”, a Swiss nonprofit organization active in Ethiopia since 2012.
In addition to the online auction, a live experience is also planned: from Friday, May 15th to Sunday, May 17th, during Rome Gallery Weekend, the public will have the opportunity to participate in a Slow Look Experience, an event that offers the opportunity to meet the artists and observe the works on display at Spazio | DuminDa in Rome ( Via Giulia 187 a/b). An invitation to slow down, look, and reflect on the value of art as a vehicle for awareness.
The numbers speak volumes about the tangible impact of Addis Guzo’s commitment: more than thirty-five thousand people supported, over eight thousand wheelchairs donated, and ongoing assistance that includes mobility assessments and lifetime maintenance of the devices. Currently, the organization supports over forty children with disabilities in rehabilitation programs and twenty women through training and economic empowerment.
There are several ways to contribute: participating in the auction, offering technical or in-kind support, or encouraging new collaborations and funding opportunities. A small gesture, in this case, can translate into tangible change. In a historical moment marked by crisis and conflict, initiatives like this remind us that art can transcend aesthetics, becoming a bridge between distant realities and a tool for restoring dignity, opportunity, and a future.
How to bid…
- Bids accepted by email to giraffeinrome@gmail.com
- from 8 pm May 12 to 8pm June 9, 2026.
- Names kept confidential, ID numbers are issued.
- Auction updates to be shared with bidders and interested bidders, and by request.
100% proceeds of the Online Charity Art Auction goes to benefit
Addis Guzo ‘New Beginnings’ in support of their projects aimed at sustaining Ethiopia’s high-needs children & women
