Why Ayzoh! World
The idea for Ayzoh! World was born from a poem by Jorge Luis Borges, “The Righteous.” In his words, we find the essence of those who, in their quiet and unassuming ways, “are saving the world.”
This poem captures the spirit of everyday heroes: people who, through small acts of kindness, generosity, and wisdom, weave the fabric of a more just and humane world. It is in honor of these “righteous” individuals that we created Ayzoh! World.
Meeting the Righteous across the world
Throughout the years, in our journeys and work, we have met and photographed countless “righteous” souls: hundreds, even thousands. We’ve encountered them on every continent where Ayzoh! has operated. We found them in times of peace and conflict, in the chic streets of Milan and the slums of Ouagadougou, in workplaces, theaters, McDonald’s restaurants, the highlands of Ethiopia, and the deserts of the Sahara, everywhere.
These men and women, through their actions, kindness, struggles, and sacrifices, quietly build fragments of peace, justice, freedom, and love: both for themselves and for others. Like Jorge Luis Borges’ “righteous” or like the man envisioned in Giorgio Gaber’s song “Se ci fosse un uomo” (“If There Were a Man”), they embody a strength that comes from facing reality with a smile, from holding onto their dreams without yielding to cynicism or despair.
A new humanism for our times
In a world that often seems lost, driven by power, greed, and an insatiable hunger for more, these “righteous” stand as beacons of a new humanism. They remind us that a different way is possible: a way where men and women are at the center of life, driven not by the empty pursuit of power or ego, but by the genuine desire for human elevation, respect, and love.
These are people who, often without knowing each other, are creating a new Renaissance: a world populated by bodies and souls who know how to enter the heart of things, who live without hypocrisy, respecting themselves and the world around them. They are those who believe in a faith beyond religious dogma, in a God that lives within each person.
Honoring the silent heroes
We have met these people. They do not know each other and are often unaware that their small actions are “saving the world.” Yet, their presence, scattered across cities, towns, and villages worldwide, is powerful. It is for them that we decided to create Ayzoh! World: the new foundation of Ayzoh!’s movement.
Building Ayzoh! World
We began by including those we have photographed over the years: friends, supporters, sponsors, clients, and beneficiaries of Ayzoh!. We added those who helped us in times of difficulty, those who did not betray us when it would have been convenient to do so, those who fight for the freedom and justice of all (and not just for the law).
They are those who have risked their safety to protect the most vulnerable, and those who show kindness and solidarity without asking who you are, where you come from, or what you do: they simply do it, often silently, ignored by mainstream media and social networks.
A global family album
This is Ayzoh! World: a vast family album that, transcending any differences in nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, or social condition, brings together our “righteous” and connects them with one another, wherever they may be. It is a testament to the quiet strength of human goodness and the infinite capacity of ordinary people to shape a better world.
