Welcome to our Jungle

Project: Welcome to Our Jungle

Project Location: Calais, France

Description: "Welcome to Our Jungle" is a participatory photography project based in the Calais refugee camp known as the 'Jungle.' It provides a vital platform for the voices of those directly affected by the crisis. Over the course of a year from November 2015 until its demolition in November 2016, the project worked closely with men, women, and children from the camp to convey their unique perspectives and insights into the crisis. This effort aimed to counter the predominantly negative and unbalanced narratives often presented in mainstream media.

Participatory Photography: Participatory photography empowers marginalized individuals by equipping them with the skills to tell their own stories through photography. It's about voice, empowerment, and self-representation. These three words hold immense power and significance, and for those at the heart of the refugee crisis, they represent something often taken from them—the ability to have a say and share their experiences.

The participants' creativity and resilience in this project exemplify the enduring human spirit's unquenchable light. Through "Welcome to Our Jungle," they reclaim their power and share their voices with the world.

Contribution to 'Us and Them Project': Work from this project is also featured in the 'Us and Them Project,' a digital platform dedicated to bringing to life the stories of refugees and migrants who have been forced to flee their home countries due to political unrest, war, and persecution. All images and captions are created by project participants, who retain joint copyright along with the facilitators: Miguel Amortegui, Becky Matthews, and Clare Struthers.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE WORK OF OUR PARTICIPANTS

Exhibitions
November 2015: 'The Jungle - Calais, France'

February 2016: 'Funk the Borders - Art4WarKids fundraiser - London'

May 2016: 'Calais Action: 'Refugees Welcome' Fundraiser - Southwark Playhouse'

2-22 June 2016: 'Call me by my name: Stories from Calais - The Migration Museum'

8-9 July 2016: 'Amnesty International Refugee Summit - London'

30 July 2016: 'Peace of Pie Festival - Hereford'

1-30 October 2016: 'Brighton Photo Fringe - Brighton'

27 January - 20 February 2017: Holocaust Memorial Day - Lewes, East Sussex

9 February 2017: 'LUSH Summit - London'

27 September 2017: 'Displacement  - The Human Experience - Plymouth University'
 

Talks
12 March 2016: 'The politics of screening images of refugees and migration - The Birbeck Institute, London

9 August 2016: 'Documenting the refugee crisis - Photo Forum London'

Press
November 2015: 'The Metro'

November 2015: 'The Mirror'

June 2016: 'Huck Magazine' 

'Welcome to Our Jungle' is run by Participatory Photography Facilitators: Clare Struthers, Miguel Amortegui and Becky Matthews, in association with Calais Action.

If you would like to talk to us about our project or would like to offer our participants any exhibition or publication opportunities, please feel free to contact us anytime, using the icons below.

Copyright © 'Photographer's Name' / Welcome to Our Jungle 2015/6
Any unauthorised reproduction or duplication of work will constitute an infringement of copyright.