A Reflection on Cultural Difference, Empathy, and INpowerment
As we drove through the sun-soaked streets of Dar es Salaam, the city still buzzing with the energy of our just-completed 4-day photography workshop, a simple moment caught Sheilla’s eye. Young children, having just finished school, walking hand in hand along the road. She paused, visibly moved, and turned to me and said, “You know, I’ve never seen this in Uganda.”
It was a moment that reminded us both of how much our environments shape how we connect with each other, with our communities, and with the world.
Growing up in Canada, I, too, am used to seeing this kind of open affection and solidarity among children. But to Sheilla, who was born and raised in Uganda, the scene was striking and unfamiliar. That moment prompted a deeper conversation, not about what was better or worse, but about what it meant.
Sheilla Clara, a graduate of our Uganda cohort and now a lead facilitator, joined us in Dar as part of our train-the-trainer program, a vital piece of our sustainability plan. Her presence wasn’t just symbolic; it represented a deeper commitment to long-term, community-led change. By investing in the leadership of women like Sheilla, we ensure the ripple effect of our work is both authentic and locally rooted.
Sheilla Clara A. teaching the 3rd Cameras For Girls cohort in Tanzania, January 2026
Not a Comparison, but an Observation
Sheilla reflected on how, in her experience, the women in Uganda often struggle to support one another, not out of unwillingness, but because communal empathy hasn’t always been modelled or encouraged. She noticed how differently the women in Tanzania supported one another during the workshop. They stepped in, stood up, and created a shared rhythm of care. That kind of support wasn’t something she expected, but it moved her deeply.
And it didn’t take long for empathy to rise to the surface.
On Day 1, TAHMEF, our incredible partner, delivered a powerful session on mental health and sexual harassment. What unfolded in that room was transformative. The women didn’t just listen, they leaned in. They opened up, shared their truths, and created a safe space for one another. No shame. No judgment. Just presence and honesty.
That’s how it should be.
When women are trusted with space to speak freely, the strength of their collective voice becomes unstoppable. For many, it was the first time they felt safe enough to say the hard things out loud. And in doing so, they INpowered each other.
A Tangible Shift
During the Tanzanian workshop, the transformation wasn’t just individual, it was collective. The women not only absorbed new skills in photography and ethical storytelling, but they also leaned into each other’s journeys. They listened deeply. They encouraged. They collaborated. That kind of solidarity isn’t something you can teach in a manual; it’s something you feel and foster through safe, intentional space.
We’ve seen this in Uganda, too, but over time, not immediately as was the case in Tanzania. Though the starting points may differ, the evolution is the same. When women are offered the tools, the mentorship, and a judgment-free environment, they flourish, not alone, but together.
A New Kind of Sisterhood
At Cameras For Girls, we don’t use the word "empowering" to describe women in the traditional sense, as is common in the nonprofit and NGO sectors. These women already have power; they’ve simply been denied access to the systems that allow that power to thrive. What we do instead is create space for INpowerment, helping them tap into what’s already within.
And part of that journey means unlearning isolation and embracing collaboration and partnership. It means showing up for one another, not out of obligation, but because we see each other’s worth.
From Uganda to Tanzania, and across all of Africa, the ripple effect of empathy, support, and community can transform not just individual lives, but entire media landscapes. We’re not just teaching photography, we’re nurturing storytellers who lead with heart, integrity, and sisterhood.
In Her Words
As Sheilla put it that day: “I didn’t know what I was missing until I saw it.” That is the power of presence, of witnessing each other’s truths without shame, and of holding space for what could be.
It was a moment that reminded us both of how much our environments shape how we connect with each other, with our communities, and with the world.
Sometimes the greatest lessons come not from a camera or a classroom, but from a quiet moment on a city street, children walking hand in hand, showing us what’s possible when we move together.