Fotohane DARKROOM is a non-profit initiative based in southeastern Turkey, in the historic city of Mardin, located near the Syrian-Iraqi and Turkish border. Mardin is a city of cultural richness, in part due to its unofficial status as a welcoming hub for refugees, many of them from Syria. It is also a place where both locals and refugees are forced to grow up faster, due to the challenges they face relating to poverty, unemployment, displacement and trauma. Fotohane Darkroom has a strong focus on empowering children through the art of analogue photography, using it as a form of therapy. The Darkroom’s objective is to leverage the power of photography as an alternative means to empower young people, and create social connections between local and refugee children and youth.

Fotohane DARKROOM engages with children from diverse backgrounds, including Syrian, Iraqi, and Turkish Kurdish communities. Darkroom workshops offer both technical tuition and a creative outlet, but also a healing experience for children affected by conflict, providing them with a unique way to express their stories and emotions through the lens of a camera. At the Darkroom, children are actively involved in every aspect of the process, from taking photos, to developing and printing inside the darkroom, and even in the selection of images showcased across Fotohane Darkroom's media channels. The display at this year’s Peckham 24 has been curated from a selection made by the children themselves, and features images by Ali (age 11), Asenet (age 8), Asu (age 9), Aye (age 12), Barin (age 12), Ciwan (age 13), Fatma (age 10), Hana (age 17), Helin (age 14), Ines (age 14), Meryem (age 6), Muhammed (age 11), Omer (age 9), Sara (age 13), Selam (age 10), Sirin (age 11), and Zehra (age 10).

This approach contributes to Fotohane DARKROOM’S mission to create a safe, inspiring space for these young individuals, enabling them to explore their creative potential while fostering a sense of community and belonging. By providing access to film photography techniques and darkroom processes, the Darkroom seeks to preserve and celebrate the art form while teaching essential skills such as patience, focus, visual literacy and attention to detail. Their work underscores the power of analogue photography in fostering connection, creativity, and personal growth.