Sebastián Liste wins 2014 Alexia Foundation Grant

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Sebastián Liste has been awarded the The Alexia Foundation‘s $20,000 professional grant for 2014 for his project “The New Culture of Violence in Latin America.” The work — part of which was commissioned by TIME — sees Liste investigate crime and security in Latin America. Finalists in this grant category included Pau Coll Sánchez and Stephen Dupont.

In the student category, work by Iran-based Mehran Hamrahi portraying the daily lives of Iranian youth — called “Iranian People, Ordinary or Criminals.” — took first place. Hamrahi receives tuition for the Syracuse University London program, a $1,000 grant towards further developing the work, and other prizes. Second place went to Shahria Sharmin, with Farzana Hossen, Andrew Renneisen, and Sarah Ann Jump receiving excellence awards.

The Alexia Foundation has supported photojournalism and social documentary projects through their annual student and professional grant programs since 1991. Named after Alexia Tsairis, a Public Communications student at Syracuse University who died tragically in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the foundation fosters photographers whose work raises awareness around complicated and often overlooked political and humanitarian issues.


Richard Conway is Reporter/Producer for TIME LightBox. Follow him on twitter @RichardJConway


Sebastian Liste won the Alexia grant for his project, "The New Culture of Violence in Latin America." Part of this project was commissioned by TIME In this image, Ana celebrates her birthday, Jan. 22, 2011 . She was born and has grown up inside the abandonated chocolate factory in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. This impoverished community took up residence in an old abandoned chocolate factory on the coast in Salvador de Bahia. Despite the lack of socio-economic support from the government, they have managed to make a safe place for themselves to live, and form a community of their own, which is safer that the alternatives available to them. However they are currently being evicted by the government due to being there illegally.
Sebastián Liste picked up the Alexia grant for his project, "The New Culture of Violence in Latin America." Part of this project was commissioned by TIME. In this image, Ana celebrates her birthday, Jan. 22, 2011. She was born and grew up as part of a community living in an abandoned chocolate factory in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. This community took up residence in the factory on the coast in Salvador de Bahia. They are currently being evicted by the government.Sebastián Liste—Reportage by Getty Images
Family carries the coffin of a "malandro." He got killed by a rival gang member the night before.
A family carries the coffin of a "malandro" - a Brazilian term usually referring to gang members. He was killed by a rival gang member the night before.Sebastián Liste—Reportage by Getty Images
Sebastian Liste won the Alexia grant for his project, "The New Culture of Violence in Latin America." "Sicario" shows his gun. He is just 18 years old, and he already killed more than 30 people. Those armed kids control the drug traffic in their neighborhood close from downtown Caracas, Venezuela.
A youth known as "Sicario" shows his gun in Caracas, Venezuela. He is 18 years old.Sebastián Liste—Reportage by Getty Images
Pau Coll Sánchez is a finalist for his work on Central American prisons. Gang member of Mara Salvatrucha in Ciudad Barrios prison. Since 8 May 2012 the Government of the Republic of El Salvador and the two main gangs in the region -Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha 13 - have entered into a process of ceasefire that has reduced the homicides in the country by 60%.
Pau Coll Sánchez was an Alexia finalist. His work focused on Central American prisons. A gang member in Ciudad Barrios prison, El Salvador.Pau Coll Sánchez
Latin American prisioners
In the old library of prison La Esperanza, now adapted as a cell, moisture and heat force the inmates to stay half naked. Inmates in these isolation cells are only allowed to go outside 20 minutes a day.Pau Coll Sánchez
Stephen Dupont is a finalist in the pro category for his work on treatment of mental health in Angola.
Stephen Dupont is a finalist in the pro category for his work on treatment of mental health in Angola.Stephen Dupont
Stephen Dupont is a finalist in the pro category for his work on treatment of mental health in Angola. A patient chained to a truck tire rim is being moved by two of Papa Kitokoa's staff at the main Asylum Block A.
Stephen Dupont is a finalist in the pro category for his work on treatment of mental health in Angola. A patient chained to a truck tire rim is being moved by two of Papa Kitokoa's staff at the main Asylum Block A.Stephen Dupont
Mehran Hamrahi won the student Alexia competition for his story on "Iranian People, Ordinary or Criminals." Arash dances with his friends at his 26th birthday party, March 1, 2013, in Ahvaz, Southern Iran. He offered the policemen 1,000 dollars in order not to confine him and his friends. This is forbidden for girls and boys to dance together and in case the police is informed of this, they will be confined.
Mehran Hamrahi won the student Alexia competition for his story on "Iranian People, Ordinary or Criminals." Arash dances with his friends at his 26th birthday party in Ahvaz, Southern Iran, March 1, 2013.Mehran Hamrahi
Mehran Hamrahi won the student Alexia competition for his story on "Iranian People, Ordinary or Criminals." Ghazal, 18, checks out a manteau in a boutique in Ahvaz, Southern Iran, May 8th 2013. After the Islamic Revolution and the mandate for Islamic veil, choosing the right clothing became a challenge for women and girls. Women and girls are obliged to wear manteau or chador. The manteau should be in a style not contradictory to Islamic rules, otherwise the person would be confined and sentenced to pay a fine.
Ghazal, 18, checks out a manteau in a boutique in Ahvaz, Southern Iran, May 8, 2013. In Iran, women and girls are obliged to wear manteau or chador. Mehran Hamrahi
Mehran Hamrahi won the student Alexia competition for his story on "Iranian People, Ordinary or Criminals." Sheida, 18, smokes a cigarette in a café in Ahvaz, Southern Iran, July 1, 2013. She said, "I feel safe in the café." Smoking the cigarette is not restricted legally in Iran, however the girls are afraid of smoking in public places. The radical Muslims and traditional people consider this as a abominable act for girls.
Sheida, 18, smokes a cigarette in a café in Ahvaz, Southern Iran, July 1, 2013. She said, "I feel safe in the café." Smoking the cigarette is not restricted legally in Iran, however the girls are afraid of smoking in public places.Mehran Hamrahi
Shahria Sharmin won 2nd place in the student category for her project, "Call Me Heena" about transgender identity in Bangladesh and India.
Shahria Sharmin won 2nd place in the student category for her project, "Call Me Heena," about transgender identity in Bangladesh and India.Shahria Sharmin
Farzana Hossen's project, "Lingering Scars," focuses on female acid and kerosene burn victims in Bangladesh and won the Alexia Award of Excellence.
Farzana Hossen's project, "Lingering Scars," focuses on female acid and kerosene burn victims in Bangladesh and won the student Alexia Award of Excellence.Farzana Hossen
Andrew Renneisen also won an award of excellence in the student competition, along with the new Gilka Grant for his project, "Hip Hop, Save Me," which documents aspiring hip-hop artists and their struggles.
Andrew Renneisen also won an award of excellence in the student competition, along with the new Gilka Grant for his project, "Hip Hop, Save Me," which documents aspiring hip-hop artists and their struggles.Andrew Renneisen
Sarah Ann Jump also won an award of excellence in the student competition, along with the new Gilka Grant for her project, "New Roots: Refugees Resettling in America," which documents a family's first year of resettlement in Rochester.
Sarah Ann Jump also won an award of excellence in the student competition, along with the new Gilka Grant for her project, "New Roots: Refugees Resettling in America," which documents a family's first year of resettlement in Rochester. Sarah Ann Jump

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