Quinkan
NGARRA’s Uganda Village project is a community-based initiative aimed at empowering youth in a remote village in Uganda through the transformative power of photography and storytelling.
Imagine a world where the voices of marginalized youth from remote communities are amplified, their stories are shared, and their dreams realized.
A place where the way they see the world and their story is the focus. With the opportunity to share their life and their voice their way, and given the opportunity to change their community in ways they never imagined.
Ngarra is a nonprofit project that empowers the youth in some of the world’s most remote communities by utilizing the power of photography to share their stories and create meaningful and lasting change in their lives. By providing cameras, education, and support, we enable these young artists to capture their unique perspectives, find their voice and share their stories through the transformative medium of photography that transcends boundaries and languages and connects us all.
Their stories are then shared all around the world in gallery exhibitions, art installations, and events, with 100% of the profits raised being reinvested into their community, creating better opportunities, and brighter futures for everyone.
Their photos provide a window to their world, raw, unfiltered, and full of emotion, stories told through a lens of hope, dreams and unlimited possibilities.
‘Ngarra’, means ‘Together As One’.
It is more than a word. It’s an ideology, a philosophy, a way of life, a path to change; a movement of togetherness, a cultural preservation, and global change
– one frame at a time.
“Come, sit with me around the fire. The night sky above us is alive with stars, each one telling its own story, just as we are gathered here to share ours. The flames flicker and dance, casting light on faces old and new, as the warmth brings us closer together. You are not here by accident. The land has called you, the ancestors have guided you, and now, in this moment, we sit together to listen, to learn, and to remember.
As the embers glow, let us bring our stories into the circle—stories of the earth, of the people, of what was and what will be. These are not just stories to pass the time, but to reconnect us to the land, to each other, and to ourselves. Together, we weave a tapestry of wisdom, knowledge, and life.
This is a place of relation, where the land speaks through us, where ancient truths resurface in each word, each gesture, each breath. The NGARRA is not just a project; it is a return. A return to being custodians of the world, stewards of the future, grounded in the wisdom of our ancestors.
Take your place by the fire, and let the stories begin.”
Projects follows a simple yet impactful approach: we work with a community, providing cameras, education, guidance, and help tell their story through the lens of a camera. Through immersive workshops, the project enables the community members (usually kids between the ages of 6-16) to tell their stories and share the way they see the world through their own lens. The photographs are then showcased in Exhibitions held in galleries around the world, with 100% of the profits generated from the sale of their work directly invested back into the community, creating lasting change for them, their family, and their community.
Imagine being a young person and providing your community with education supplies, with healthcare or medical aid, being responsible for bringing power and electricity with solar panels and batteries to your village. Imagine your photographs providing water filters and food, infrastructure, and equipment that makes yours, your family, and your community’s lives better. Imagine the confidence, the empowerment, the validation that comes from their story is being heard, being shared, recognized and praised by people on the other side of the world; who want you to thrive, to succeed, and want to help you to do so. What could that do to a generation of young people when they can see the world cares about their story, about their voice?
What will that do for those who experience these stories? What change can be inspired by seeing what good can be done by giving, by sharing good story, by supporting each other?
Every photograph is more than just an image. It is a window into a world of potential and possibility. By empowering young people to capture and share their unique perspectives, we ignite a spark that can illuminate their path and create a brighter future. Each frame they create becomes a testament to their journey, a beacon that transcends boundaries of boarders or languages and connects hearts and spirits across the globe.
Printing and displaying these images physically is an essential part of this transformation. When these photographs are displayed and you stand in front of them, the photos speak directly to the viewer, transcending the boundaries of time and place, evoking empathy, understanding, and a deep sense of shared humanity. It is in these moments, standing before these works of art, that we can truly feel the pulse of the stories being told, and be moved to action, to change, and to connect with our own place, and come into that relation we all share.
For the kids seeing their stories up on the walls of galleries being celebrated and respected brings validation and pride. For those who encounter these stories, it offers a transformative experience that changes you and inspires you. This is the window into their world, how they see it; the beauty and diversity through eyes of children.
Our WHY is simple: we do this because the future depends on it. In sharing stories, we share hope, we give voice, and we give back to the land, the people, and the future. Every one deserves the opportunity to share their story – not only because it’s their right, but because the world needs to hear it. These stories, these perspectives, are the lifeblood of connection. They remind us of our shared humanity and the importance of living in harmony with the land and each other.
We are a nonprofit because this work is not about profit or gain—it’s about restoring balance. The purpose isn’t transactional; it’s transformational. When a young person holds a camera and captures their world, they aren’t just creating art—they’re reclaiming their voice. They’re reconnecting with their community and sharing their truth. And when their story is printed, exhibited, and seen by others, it plants seeds of empathy and understanding in hearts across the globe. That’s the kind of change that matters – the kind that ripples outward, changing lives, communities, and the world at large.
This project, born from a single frame by a child and a purpose given by elders around a campfire, has become a movement of togetherness, cultural preservation, and global change. Ngarra is a testament to the power of coming together, of sharing stories, of being custodians of creation. It is a call to everyone to sit around the same fire, to listen, to share, and to understand that in our unity, we can create meaningful, lasting change. This is the path Ngarra takes – a path illuminated by the flames of ancient wisdom and traditional ways of knowing, guiding us toward a future where every voice is heard, every story is told, and every life is valued. This is the future we desperately need. This is your invitation to join us around the fire.
$15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$0.00Current price is: $0.00.
Every voice has a song that must be sung. Our journey is fuelled by a deep commitment to preserving the rich cultural heritage that pulses through the veins of communities that are so often overlooked and dismissed. We are not just driven by a mission; we are guided by the spirit of empowerment and the sacred responsibility to build and nurture community. Through our projects and initiatives, we seek to elevate the voices that have long been silenced, to nurture the artistic flames that burn within, and to bridge the distances between cultures. We envision a world where creativity is not just a gift, but a birthright; where cultures intertwine like the roots of an ancient tree, and where every individual is empowered to share the unique story that only they can tell.
NGARRA’s Uganda Village project is a community-based initiative aimed at empowering youth in a remote village in Uganda through the transformative power of photography and storytelling.