Chiara Farnea Croff, Warwick’s Venice Programme Coordinator, has won first prize in a campaign organised by the prestigious Venice opera house La Fenice to tackle violence against women.

Chiara has volunteered for many years for a charitable organisation which offers help to women seeking refuge, and the prize marks a continuation of her efforts to highlight this issue.

La Fenice launched a competition to think up a slogan, which Chiara won with an entry based on the name one of opera’s most famous heroines.

Her winning slogan was:

• C onoscenza (Knowledge)
• A utonomia (Independence)
• R ispetto (Respect)
• M emoria (Memory)
• E ducazione (Education)
• N onvielenza (Nonviolence)

Chiara said, "This is a topic I'm passionate about, so to receive this award is an absolute honour." The prize was awarded by a jury consisting of leading figures from Venice’s cultural community.

Chiara Farnea Croff with Italian actress Ottavia Piccolo and Cristian Chiarot, the Sovrintendente of the Teatro la Fenice