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.
aboUt us
behind the lens
EveRy voIce matTers.
EVErY sTOry is heard.
Every Life Has Hope.
it's more than photographs. it's a bridge between worlds, voices, & generations. the heartbeat of culture captured in light & shadow. a fire that awakens connection & change. an impact in the hearts & lives of all who witness it.
It started with a simple idea; provide cameras and give the chance for young people to tell their story. Not a version interpreted by a stranger, but their story; the way they want to share it. To print those photos, share them with the world, sell their art, and give all of the money back to the community. What came from that one idea was more than anticipated. It went beyond providing aid or financial support, and became a window to another world – a world through the eyes of children that is full of hope, dreams, and possibilities – that inspired not only those in the community but everyone who came in contact with it as we started to share their stories around the globe.
That is when I first saw the impact that could come from this, that could come from the lens of a camera.
Not from mine, but from theirs.
Everywhere you go on this continent currently known as Australia, you will find ngarra everywhere, spoken in different tongues but always pointing to the same truth. Coming from the Dharug way, just south of my home on Wonnarua and Awabakal country, it means ‘together as one’. For the Yolngu in the north, it means ‘being together,’ held in unity. To the Noongar in the west, it’s ‘to be connected,’ and for the Kaurna in the south, it speaks to ‘combining in common purpose.’
No matter what native land you’re standing on, ngarra is law. Not the kind written on paper but the kind carved into the land itself. It’s a way of being in relation – with each other, with the Earth, and with everything that breathes and moves around us. It’s not just a principle; it’s a pulse, a rhythm that ties us all together, a reminder that we are all sitting around the same fire, bound by purpose and place and promise.
This is more than just taking pictures; it’s about creating spaces – spaces where connection and self-expression flow freely, where perspectives come together to invite us to see worlds we rarely get to witness, to listen to voices we rarely get to hear, to sit alongside friends, families, communities, experience their lives and create relationships between people that would otherwise never get the chance to meet. Every project we work on, every frame captured, and every story shared is done hand in hand with the communities themselves, with all profits return to the people who hold these stories, fueling their dreams and strengthening the futures they imagine for themselves. It’s a partnership, rooted in respect and reciprocity, ensuring that when these stories travel beyond their homeland, the benefits travel back as well, creating embassy, an intercontinental common lore of shared story that bring us all together.
We invite you to join us. To sit by the fire, to listen, to see through the lens of these young people, to share in the experience of their worlds, their stories, and be a part of making real change in the world.
one story, one image, one connection at a time, we can reignite the shared humanity that binds us all Together as one.
leaving a lasting impact
Our mission never was and never will be driven by profit, but by purpose. We are a not-for-profit project because the work we do cannot and should not be measured by financial gain, nor should it be kept behind a paywall, nor held in reserves or the hands of individuals. Our purpose goes beyond the bottom line and is rooted in the belief that every story matters, that every community deserves the opportunity to thrive, that every member, even its youngest ones, can make the biggest difference.
Operating as a not-for-profit and donating 100% of all profits to community initiatives allows us to stay true to our values and what was asked of us. It ensures that our resources, energy, and focus are directed toward empowering the youth, supporting community, and nurturing the creative expression of those whose voices have too often been marginalized, silenced, or drowned out. We exist to serve, to uplift, and to connect – not to accumulate wealth or power. We are accountable to the communities we serve, not to shareholders.
Being a not-for-profit project is a reflection of the lore, the stories, the communities, the people and the land that guide us. Our work is built on the principles of reciprocity, community, and sustainability – not on competition or individual gain.
This accountability to our traditional lore ensures that every decision we make is in the best interest of those who entrust us with their stories, their hopes, and their futures. It allows us to reinvest every dollar earned back into the communities we work with, creating a cycle of support that builds resilience, fosters creativity, and inspires lasting change.
Napagi napagi. Gadugi. Ganoñhsésge. Wóohečhota. K’é: K’é.
Wherever you go in the world there is the same way – because it’s the right way.
our impact ( so far )
"a life changing project - for both those behind the camera, and anyone who has the privilege to see it."
"a life changing project - for both those behind the camera, and anyone who has the privilege to see it."
"a life changing project - for both those behind the camera, and anyone who has the privilege to see it."
"a life changing project - for both those behind the camera, and anyone who has the privilege to see it."
"a life changing project - for both those behind the camera, and anyone who has the privilege to see it."
"a life changing project - for both those behind the camera, and anyone who has the privilege to see it."