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.
how we work
Everything you need to understand, implement, + support our community empowerment approach
A Methodology With Language + Ceremony As Foundations
coming into relation isn’t just a method but a way of seeing, of knowing, and of being. It’s a philosophy that runs through everything we do, shaping how we walk into a place, how we hold ourselves in that space, and how we leave it for those who come after us.
Wisdom lives in the way we walk together, in the methods we share, and in the relationships we nurture. For generations, communities have known how to empower their young people, how to preserve their stories, and how to create change from within – knowledge passed through ceremony, through practice, through the sacred act of working in right relation with one another.
Yet in our modern world, these ways of working are often overlooked, these methodologies dismissed, and these approaches buried beneath systems that prioritize extraction over reciprocity. Organizations have historically imposed their methods on communities without understanding, claiming expertise over processes that were never theirs to define.
Sharing our methodology, our curriculum, and our approach stands as a move to break the fences built around community empowerment and bring it back to the fire, where it belongs. Where it can be practiced, questioned, adapted, and passed forward in the way it was always meant to be. This is knowledge in Wangu – in collective sense-making – where learning how to work with communities is not an individual pursuit but a shared responsibility. This is why we do the work and put it out there. Freely. Openly. Without restriction. If you seek to understand how authentic community partnership works, it should be accessible to you. Not parceled out to the privileged few, but held within the fire for all to sit with.
Whether you’re an educator seeking to implement our curriculum, a researcher studying participatory methodologies, a community leader exploring partnership opportunities, or an organization wanting to support our work authentically, you’ll find everything you need here. Our approach is built on the foundation of “Coming to Relation” – a way of working that honors indigenous knowledge systems, ensures community control, and creates genuine partnerships rather than extractive relationships.
Below you’ll discover our complete methodology, access our curriculum resources, explore our research, and understand how to engage with our work in ways that serve communities rather than systems, that build relationships rather than transactions, that honor the wisdom communities have always carried within themselves.
every project begins with involving the local native people from the land. Their stories, their needs, and their relationship with the land shape what we do.
our methodology: coming to relation
DEVELOPING A METHODOLOGY WITH LANGUAGE AND CEREMONY AS FOUNDATIONS
To come into relation means to listen first, to understand that the land and the people are your teachers. It means reflecting deeply before moving, co-creating solutions that are rooted in respect and reciprocity. It means being accountable, not just to the communities you engage with, but to the land itself, to the stories that have shaped it, and to the future that depends on it.
This framework is not static; it’s dynamic, evolving with each new place, each new relationship. It can be used by anyone willing to slow down, to listen, and to walk with intention. It’s a guide for those who seek to build genuine connections across cultures, to honor the wisdom of the old ways, and to co-create a world where all beings—human and non-human—can thrive together.
read our full 'coming to relation' protocols
the living web of creation
giving voice to the next generation, preserving culture, & inspiring a world to see the beauty in every story
Dig described all connection as networks of kinship pairs, each one linked to others in an intricate dance that ripples outwards, a living mandala that echoes across all cultures, all lands, all peoples, all belief systems. He drew it in the sand by the fires listening and crossing over, a web of relationships expanding outwards. ‘Connectedness protocols,’ he called it. ‘Not just isolated pairs, but networks that link and move, forming a living, breathing system.’
This is the heart of our framework. It’s not a checklist or a linear process – it’s a way of being. It’s about understanding that every connection is part of a much larger whole, that every action ripples through a web that stretches across time and space. This isn’t just about the people in front of you – it’s about the land beneath you, the ancestors who came before, and the future generations who will walk this ground after we’re gone.
To work this way means sitting in ceremony, not as an observer but as a participant. It means listening to the land and the people, learning the rhythms of their language, their protocols, their ways. It’s about stepping back from the usual transactional flow of ‘community work’ that parachutes in, makes a splash, and leaves before the roots can take hold. This way misses the point. Communities are not problems to be solved – they’re networks of relations to be entered into with care, to be increased, not grown, to be given agency, not charity.
In indigenous knowledge systems and ways of being, every step onto the land is an act of respect, every conversation a thread in a web of reciprocity and responsibility. The land, the people, the stories, these are not separate from you but are part of the same dance, all interconnected, one depending on the other. This understanding has shaped the framework we call coming to relation, born from conversations with Dig, symbols drawn in the sand, and teachings gathered from indigenous peoples around the world.
where wisdom meets practice, where resources serve relationship
The fire is lit, the circle is open, and the knowledge waits to be shared. Every resource we offer has been born from authentic community partnership, tested in the sacred space of real relationships, and refined through the wisdom of young people who have found their voices through our work. These are not theoretical frameworks but living methodologies, not academic abstractions but practical tools that have transformed communities across the globe.
We believe that knowledge belongs to those who will use it to serve others, to those who understand that every resource carries responsibility, to those who know that learning is not about taking but about giving back. Each pathway below offers different ways to engage with our work, different depths of connection, different levels of commitment to the sacred task of community empowerment.
Choose the path that calls to your heart, that matches your capacity to serve, that honors the relationships you seek to build. Remember: accessing our resources is not a transaction but the beginning of a relationship, not an ending but a starting place for the work that matters most.
Complete Curriculum Packages: Age-appropriate photography and cultural preservation programs (5-25 years)
Workshop Facilitation Guides: Step-by-step frameworks for community-controlled learning
Cultural Protocol Training: How to honor indigenous knowledge in educational settings
Educator Network Access: Ongoing support, mentorship, and collaborative learning opportunities
Assessment & Evaluation Tools: Community-centered methods for measuring authentic impact
Published Research Library: Complete access to our participatory visual methodology studies
Ethical Collaboration Frameworks: Guidelines for community-controlled research partnerships
Academic Resource Packages: Literature reviews, theoretical foundations, and methodology guides
Co-Research Opportunities: Invitations to participate in community-led research projects
Publication Partnership Programs: Support for publishing community-centered research
Partnership Framework Library: Models for ethical institutional collaboration
Funding Strategy Guides: How to support community-controlled programming effectively
Cultural Competency Training: Deep learning about indigenous knowledge systems and protocols
Impact Measurement Systems: Community-defined metrics for authentic evaluation
Consultation & Advisory Services: Ongoing guidance for respectful institutional engagement
Community Information Packages: Complete overviews of NGARRA programming and benefits
Partnership Development Guides: How to structure community-controlled collaborationsCultural Adaptation Frameworks: Tools for adapting our approach to your specific cultural context
Youth Leadership Development: Resources for empowering young people as program leaders
Sustainability Planning Tools: Long-term strategies for community ownership and growth
International Collaboration Guides: Frameworks for respectful cross-cultural partnership
Cultural Exchange Programs: Opportunities for community-to-community learning
Global Network Access: Connections with NGARRA communities and partners worldwide
Translation & Adaptation Resources: Tools for honoring local languages and cultural contexts
Solidarity Action Toolkits: Ways to support indigenous rights and community empowerment globally
Innovation Partnership Opportunities: Collaborative development of new approaches and tools
Creative Residency Programs: Immersive experiences working directly with communities
Technology & Digital Sovereignty Resources: Ethical approaches to digital tools and platforms
Healing & Wellness Integration: Frameworks for incorporating holistic health approaches
Custom Collaboration Development: Co-creation of entirely new partnership models based on your unique gifts
Inspiring the Next 7
giving voice to the next generation, preserving culture, & inspiring a world to see the beauty in every story
This is at the core of our project. We don’t simply hand over cameras. We open pathways for young people to reconnect with their culture, their land, and their voice. The tools we provide are not just instruments for capturing images; they are a means for these young storytellers to see their world in new ways and share their perspectives with a broader audience. Through these lenses, they document their lives, their land, and the strength embedded in their traditions.
But the Ngarra has the potential to mean so much more than just a photography or arts project. It’s about coming into relation. It’s about inspiring these young people to see the intricate connections they are a part of—the relationships between their ancestors, their families, the land, and themselves. When we provide them with a camera, it’s not about technology; it’s about agency. It’s an invitation to see the beauty, resilience, and wisdom in their own culture and to share that with the world. The process of taking a photograph becomes a ceremony of reflection and expression—a way of engaging with their heritage and telling the stories that have been passed down through generations.
This act of storytelling is a powerful form of self-determination. It empowers these young artists to reclaim their narratives, to recognize the beauty in their everyday lives, and to see the strength in their traditions. It enables them to share their vision with others—people who may have never understood the depth of their culture or the richness of their environment. And it reminds them that their stories are just as valuable, just as important, as any others being told.
our impact ( so far )
To the institutions, educators, and knowledge keepers who have recognized the value of this work and chosen to amplify it - thank you.
THaNkyOU
thank you for being part of this journey, for helping us create lasting change & for lighting the path toward a more connected, compassionate & brighter future for everyone.
The work we do isn’t possible without you.
Your support creates the space for young people to reclaim their narratives, to find their voices, and to shape their communities in ways that echo far beyond the moment and creates real, lasting change in their lives, in their families, and communities. Your belief in these kids, in the power of story, in the strength of culture, and in the idea that together as one we can make a world of difference is what continues to inspire us, and drive us.
One story, one frame, one connection at a time – we can make a difference.