In July, 2007, VILLAGE GALLERIES spent 10 days in the Maasai communiites of Monduli District in Tanzania.

Children, men and women along with teachers and administrators were given a chance to work with 48 digital

cameras and printers in a series of 'story-telling through photography' workshops.

THIS PROJECT OWES AN ENORMOUS DEBT TO

Chanel Croker, AMANI ECCD, Tanzania & AMANI International Foundation

whose tireless efforts got us there and sustained us there.

A Maasai without culture is as a zebra without stripes. If we abandon our way of life,

our next step could be extinction. Help us to preserve our way of life"                         

...Kakuta Ole Maimai. 

Our essential hope is to spark imagination and empower the young people; building confidence, self-esteem and

hope. Children will document and share their culture with each other and ultimately with the world. With these goals

in mind, the VILLAGEGALLERIES team will teach camera basics, lighting, composition, the development of point-of-

view, and sequencing for narrative. Classes/meetings will allow the children to develop their innate creativity

through photography. The photos have the potential to awaken their self-expression and enliven their curiosity. In

doing so, they will respectfully document their community past, present and future.

Our long-range plans include websites, books, and touring photography exhibits. We hopethe images will be

finalized in a touring exhibition and a group book, to be viewed within Tanzania and around the world.