Where I belong a youth community photo project by CBC Calgary

Belonging it's critical to wellbeing, safety and confidence.

Yet there's no one path to find it. There's no "one" way to belong. We each find our own.

This year, 10 young Calgary residents borrowed CBC cameras, got training in photographyand set out to explore what belonging meansto them.

Some found one key friend made the difference. Others discovered their most significant source of belonging was their family or a sports team. Still others found belonging comes from pursuing your own unique passions, even if that means you're spending time alone.

The goal was to gain skills and share an individual story in a public way.

"I want to show them who I am," 17-year-old photographerShafie Farahtold CBC's The Homestretch.

"I want them to feel like I'm just a normal kid, like the rest of the Canadian kids," added Mohammad Turkmani, who took photos of riding transit and his love of soccer.

CBC Calgary ran the project as a way to gain insight and tell stories of young people in Calgary.

We partnered with Umoja Community Mosaic, a local non-profit that focuses on youth and inclusion, especially through soccer. Their staff recruited the youth and supported them throughout the workshop, covering their own costs with a federal anti-racism grant.

For Umoja, anti-racism work is about finding elements that unite people, said Nurishah Dharamsi, manager of programs and community relations.

"When you feel like you're part of something, then you're free to contribute. That's what breaks down the barriers," she said.

"This wasn't about what makes newcomers feel like they belong, but about what makes all of us feel like we belong."

As part of an ongoing partnership, the Calgary Public Library hosted the project and will be sharing the photo stories publicly at several branches around the city.

Umojawill also setup an installation at the Genesis Centre fortwo weeks in April.

Visit the photo installation

Next installations:

• Signal Hill (SW) July 21 to August 18
• Seton (SE) August 18 to September 15
• Saddletowne (NE) September 15 to October 13
• Nose Hill (NW) October 13 to November 10

Explore your story

Join the project by grabbing a camera yourself. Turn the lens on you!

Who are you really? And where do you belong?

Shoot your story. Be real with it. Then share it as a photo dump on your favourite social media channel.

Tag CBC Calgaryor use the hashtag #CBCmylens if you want others to find it.

Young Calgary

Want to get involved in CBC Calgary's effort to involve more young Calgary residents in the news? Share your story and learn from your peers.

Add your cellphone number in the box below. It's free, confidential and you can unsubscribe any time by texting STOP. More details at cbc.ca/youngcalgary.