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.
FAQ
your questions answered
ORGANIZATION BASICS
what is NGARRA?
NGARRA is a not-for-profit project that empowers youth in the world’s most remote and marginalized communities by utilizing the power of photography to share their stories and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives. By providing cameras, education, and support, NGARRA enables young artists to capture their unique perspectives, find their voice, and share their stories through the transformative medium of photography.ra team members deliver powerful keynotes that delve into the intersections of art, culture, and social change. From sharing personal stories of working in remote communities to exploring the transformative power of photography and storytelling, our keynotes inspire audiences to think differently about their role in the world.
what does NGARRA mean
The name “Ngarra” means “Together As One,” reflecting the organization’s mission to unite people across cultures and boundaries through shared visual storytelling. This name embodies our belief that photography can create connections that transcend language, geography, and cultural differences.
When and why was NGARRA founded?
NGARRA was formally established as a nonprofit organization in 2025, following several successful pilot projects that started in 2018. Founder Andrew D. Flanagan, a documentary photographer who had worked in remote communities for over a decade, recognized that despite his best intentions, there were fundamental limitations to an outsider documenting these communities. NGARRA emerged from the question: what if instead of taking photographs of these communities, we provided the tools and training for community members to document their own realities?
What is NGARRA's core philosophy?
NGARRA’s work is guided by the indigenous philosophy of “Napagi Napagi” (give-give), which represents a continuous cycle of generosity and reciprocity that sustains all life. Unlike the transactional concept of “give and take,” this philosophy emphasizes ongoing cycles of giving that create expanding patterns of connection and benefit. This principle is embedded in every aspect of our work, most notably in our commitment to return 100% of proceeds from photograph sales to the communities where they originated.
PROGRAMS + APPROACH
How do NGARRA's programs work?
Our programs begin with an invitation from a community, followed by extensive consultation with community leaders to design a program that respects local cultural protocols and addresses community priorities. We provide cameras, technical training, and ongoing mentorship to young people (typically ages 12-18), supporting them in documenting aspects of community life, cultural practices, and environmental conditions that they and their community deem important. Photographs are exhibited locally and internationally, with 100% of sales proceeds returning to fund community-identified initiatives.
How do NGARRA's programs work?
Our programs begin with an invitation from a community, followed by extensive consultation with community leaders to design a program that respects local cultural protocols and addresses community priorities. We provide cameras, technical training, and ongoing mentorship to young people (typically ages 12-18), supporting them in documenting aspects of community life, cultural practices, and environmental conditions that they and their community deem important. Photographs are exhibited locally and internationally, with 100% of sales proceeds returning to fund community-identified initiatives.
What makes NGARRA different from other photography education programs?
Several key factors distinguish NGARRA’s approach:
1. **Narrative Sovereignty**: We center the principle that communities should control their own stories and representations, with young photographers determining what to document and how to share it.
2. **Complete Economic Return**: 100% of proceeds from photograph sales return to communities, funding initiatives identified by community members themselves.
3. **Cultural Integration**: Our programs integrate photography education with cultural knowledge systems, respecting local protocols and priorities.
4. **Long-term Commitment**: Rather than short-term workshops, we develop ongoing relationships with communities, providing continued mentorship and support.
5. **Technical Sustainability**: We build local capacity for equipment maintenance, archive management, and technical skills to ensure program sustainability.
How does NGARRA ensure cultural respect and appropriate representation?
Cultural respect is foundational to our approach. We:
– Work only with communities that have invited us
– Develop programs through extensive consultation with community leaders and elders
– Train all staff in cultural protocols specific to each community context
– Ensure communities maintain control over how their images are used and shared
– Implement community review processes for all external communications
– Maintain an Indigenous Advisory Council that guides organizational policies
– Employ local staff and mentors whenever possible
– Regularly evaluate our practices through community feedback
IMPACT + OUTCOMES
What tangible impacts have NGARRA's programs had?
Our programs have generated over $000000 for community-identified projects, including clean water systems, educational facilities, healthcare initiatives, and cultural preservation programs. Beyond these material outcomes, our work has strengthened cultural continuity through the documentation of traditional practices, created educational and economic opportunities for young participants, and amplified indigenous perspectives in global conversations about environmental and social issues.
How do communities benefit from NGARRA's programs?
Communities benefit in multiple ways:
– **Economic Resources**: 100% of photograph sales proceeds fund community-identified initiatives
– **Cultural Preservation**: Creation of visual archives documenting cultural practices and knowledge
– **Youth Development**: Educational opportunities and skill development for young participants
– **Narrative Control**: Increased ability to share community stories on their own terms
– **Intergenerational Connection**: Strengthened relationships between youth and elders
– **External Recognition**: Increased visibility and appreciation for community perspectives
What happens to the photographs after they're taken?
Photographs remain the intellectual property of the young photographers and their communities. With appropriate permissions, selected images are exhibited locally and internationally, with 100% of sales proceeds returning to the communities. All photographs are archived in community-controlled digital systems, with access protocols determined by community leaders. Some images are used in NGARRA’s communications with appropriate attribution and permissions, while others remain exclusively within community archives based on cultural protocols.
How sustainable are NGARRA's programs over time?
Sustainability is built into our program design through:
– **Skill Transfer**: Comprehensive training in photography, equipment maintenance, and archive management
– **Local Leadership**: Development of local program coordinators and mentors
– **Equipment Maintenance**: Training and resources for ongoing equipment care and repair
– **Peer Teaching**: Systems for experienced participants to teach new participants
– **Community Ownership**: Integration of programs into existing community structures
– **Diverse Funding**: Multiple revenue streams to support ongoing program costs
Many of our initial program sites now operate with minimal external support, with experienced participants leading workshops for younger community members and managing their own exhibitions and sales.
PARTICIPATION + SUPPORT
How can communities request a NGARRA program?
Communities interested in partnering with NGARRA can contact us through our website or reach out to our regional program directors. The process begins with initial conversations to understand community interests and needs, followed by a collaborative assessment to determine program feasibility and design. We maintain a waitlist for new community partnerships and prioritize based on both community need and our organizational capacity.
How can photographers or photography educators get involved?
Professional photographers and educators can support NGARRA’s work in several ways:
– Volunteer as mentors for young participants (requires cultural competency training)
– Donate professional-grade equipment
– Provide technical expertise for specific program components
– Host workshops or masterclasses for advanced participants
– Support exhibitions of participants’ work
– Advocate for ethical approaches to photography in marginalized communities
Interested professionals should contact our Volunteer Coordinator through our website.
How can individuals support NGARRA's work?
Individuals can support our work through:
– Financial donations (one-time or recurring)
– Equipment donations (cameras, computers, storage devices)
– Purchasing photographs from our exhibitions and online gallery
– Attending our events and exhibitions
– Sharing our work through social networks
– Volunteering professional skills (marketing, translation, technical support)
– Advocating for narrative sovereignty in visual storytelling
How can organizations partner with NGARRA?
We partner with various types of organizations:
– **Foundations and Funders**: Program grants and operational support
– **Equipment Companies**: Donations of cameras, computers, and technical equipment
– **Galleries and Museums**: Exhibition partnerships
– **Educational Institutions**: Research collaborations and educational programs
– **Media Organizations**: Ethical storytelling partnerships
– **Community Organizations**: Local implementation partnerships
Potential partners should contact our Development Director to discuss alignment with our mission and values.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
what is NGARRA?
How does NGARRA address power dynamics in its work?
We acknowledge that even well-intentioned interventions can reinforce problematic power dynamics. We address this through:
– Centering community agency in all program decisions
– Implementing community review processes for external communications
– Ensuring economic benefits flow directly to communities
– Building local capacity rather than creating dependency
– Regularly evaluating our practices through community feedback
– Maintaining diverse leadership including significant indigenous representation
– Providing cultural competency training for all staff and volunteers
what does NGARRA mean
How does NGARRA ensure young participants’ wellbeing and safety?
The safety and wellbeing of young participants is our highest priority. We implement comprehensive child protection policies including:
– Staff background checks and child safety training
– Clear codes of conduct for all program activities
– Parental/guardian consent processes
– Community oversight of all program activities
– Culturally appropriate support systems
– Regular program evaluation including participant wellbeing measures
– Secure image management systems
– Ethical guidelines for image sharing and exhibition
When and why was NGARRA founded?
How does NGARRA handle sensitive cultural content?
We respect that some knowledge and cultural practices are not appropriate for public sharing. Our processes include:
– Community determination of what can be photographed and shared
– Multiple levels of permission for different types of content
– Community review before any external sharing
– Clear protocols for different categories of images
– Secure archive systems with community-controlled access
– Regular review of sharing practices with community leaders
What is NGARRA's core philosophy?
What happens if a community wants to end their participation?
Communities have the right to modify or end their participation at any time. If a community chooses to end their partnership with NGARRA:
– All equipment provided remains with the community
– The community retains full rights to all photographs taken
– Archive systems remain under community control
– Any ongoing exhibition or sales activities continue only with explicit permission
– Evaluation is conducted to understand reasons for ending participation
– Relationships are maintained respectfully regardless of formal program status
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
thoughts from talks
What are NGARRA's plans for growth?
Our strategic plan focuses on thoughtful growth that maintains program quality and alignment with our values. Key initiatives include:
– Expanding to 10 new communities over the next two years through our “Through Their Eyes” campaign
– Developing our digital storytelling platform to increase visibility for participants’ work
– Strengthening our educational partnerships to create pathways for advanced participants
– Building our equipment recycling program to increase sustainability
– Expanding our research partnerships to better document program impacts
– Developing advanced training modules for experienced participants
How is NGARRA addressing technological changes in photography?
We continuously adapt our programs to reflect evolving technologies while maintaining our core principles. Current initiatives include:
– Integrating mobile photography components where appropriate
– Developing approaches to emerging technologies like AI image generation
– Creating ethical guidelines for digital manipulation and editing
– Building digital literacy components into our curriculum
– Strengthening data sovereignty approaches for digital archives
– Exploring virtual reality as a storytelling medium
How does NGARRA address environmental sustainability?
We recognize our responsibility to minimize environmental impacts. Our sustainability initiatives include:
– Equipment recycling and refurbishment programs
– Solar power solutions for technical equipment
– Digital workflows that minimize printing except for exhibitions
– Carbon offset programs for necessary staff travel
– Local sourcing of materials whenever possible
– Environmental education components in our curriculum
How can I learn more about NGARRA's work?
You can learn more about our work through:
– Our website: www.ngarra.org
– Social media channels: @ngarraartarchive
– Annual impact reports (available on our website)
– Exhibition catalogs and publications
– Documentary films about our programs
– Public presentations and events
– Direct contact with our Communications team
the power of ngarRA is in us-all
Their photos, their films, their art invite us all to look closer, listen deeper, and remember what it means to stand together as one.
Every photograph is more than an image – it’s a window into possibility, a spark of potential that bridges worlds. When young people pick up a camera and frame their unique perspectives, they’re not just telling their story; they’re crafting a connection that leaps across borders and languages, braiding hearts, minds and spirits together. Each frame they create becomes a marker of their journey, a light that illuminates not just their path but the shared humanity we often forget.
There’s something powerful about bringing these stories into the physical world, printing them, and placing them on gallery walls. When you stand in front of these photographs, they speak to you – not just through the image, but through the energy of the story behind it. The photos dissolve distance and time, drawing you into the moment they were captured, stirring empathy, understanding, and a recognition of what we all share, the fragment we all have in common, in being human. In these quiet exchanges, the stories have the power to shift something within you, to remind you of your own connection to the world, to the land, and to inspire action and relation.
For the young photographers, seeing their work on the walls of a gallery -celebrated, respected, and honored – is a moment of profound pride and validation. For those who encounter these images, it’s a transformative experience that changes and inspires. You are invited into their world, to see the beauty, resilience, and diversity through the eyes of children – raw, honest, and deeply human. These aren’t just photographs; they are connections, they are relationships, they are portals into other worlds, where every story brings us closer to one another, showing us we have more in common than what divides us, that we are all one people, one fire, together as one.
still have Questions?
