Meet the 10 young photographers behind a new CBC photo installation
Elise Stolte | CBC News | Posted: March 31, 2023 9:00 AM | Last Updated: March 31, 2023
A community photo project run in partnership with Umoja Community Mosaic
Our stories have power. When we share a true story about ourselves, we crack open a door that invites the listener to examine their life a little more closely, too.
These young Calgary residents signed up for a photography workshop with CBC Calgary and a non-profit community group, Umoja Community Mosaic. They set out to share their stories through photographs and explore the theme: Where I belong.
Check out their photo installations at Calgary Public Library branches around the city. More detail here.
Our photographers and their stories
Noah Dharamsi, 15, was born in Vancouver and speaks multiple languages. But his love is for hockey — watching it, playing it.
It's a way to be part of a community that's bigger than the sport itself.
Davyd Homeniuk, 17, fled Ukraine with his mother and grandmother, leaving his father behind to fight in the war.
He came to Calgary eight months before the photo project and spoke with the help of a translator.
May Taleb, 14, moved to Calgary from Lebanon via Syria when she was six.
She remembers how being surrounded by aunts and uncles makes that transition easier, and how she explored the city by transit with her mother.
Sasha Mwiza, 16, grew up in Calgary and took photos of her friends, her family and her faith.
Her youth group gives her a sense of belonging, as well as the friends in her life who feel like family.
Shafie Farah, 17, came to Calgary in 2018 from Somalia via Indonesia. He grew up playing soccer with a ball of socks on the streets and now dreams of making it pro and playing for Canada.
Matthew Fielden, 14, grew up in Calgary and enjoys team sports. But his photos were of skiing in the mountains, playing piano and hanging out with his family.
He found places to relax and even spend time alone, and took the photo above with the help of a drone.
Marian Abebe, 16, was born in Calgary. She took most of her photos while exploring the downtown, trying to document where and why she feels so at home here.
She also documented how her Muslim faith and Somalian/Ethiopian cultures shape where she feels she belongs.
Mohammad Turkmani, 15, came to Calgary just over a year ago. His family are refugees from Afghanistan.
He got a job at a neighbourhood restaurant shortly after arriving, and Umoja Community Mosaic helped him join a team with the Calgary Foothills Soccer Club.
Valeria Aguirre Gutierrez, 16, has moved several times in her life, from Ecuador to Calgary to New Brunswick and back to Calgary.
She now enjoys meeting new people and cultures, and finds that making one good friend is the key to feeling like you belong.
Efrata Chiko, 14, was born in Ethiopia and grew up in Calgary. She feels like she belongs in this city, and her friends are a big part of that.
If she feels overwhelmed or sad, she spends time outdoors or in nature.
Visit and get involved
Visit the full installation at the Calgary Public Library. Details here.
If you're a Calgary resident between the ages of roughly 16 and 25, get involved with our new Young Calgary project by dropping your cellphone number in the box below.
Share your story to help shape our reporting. Get an inside view on the news. It's free, confidential and you can unsubscribe any time by texting the word STOP. Details at cbc.ca/youngcalgary.