Fittja - Reclaim the Narrative

Building peace through photography

”Rights”, ”Justice”, ”Equality”, ”Freedom”, ”Joy” - FPC asked eight-graders in Fittjaskolan how we can capture the notion of peace in our surrounding? How can we describe what peace means in one word? Can we capture that word in a photograph?”


…and so they did – and the results are surprising, inspiring, and honest. Surprising, because they break the boundaries of the habitual. The images tell stories of life in a diverse suburb of Stockholm. One which is often portrayed in popular culture as riddled with conflict. Yet, the images tell a different story. One of hope, longing and a profound understanding of what it means to be young in times of uncertainty. In the iconography, structural violence has succumbed to serenity and the mundane is transformed into magic realism.

The images remind us that to aspire is to inspire. That hope is not a void but a motor of dreams and the road to inner and social peace. The mages before you are the thoughts and voice of a generation – an honest account that life is not elsewhere. It is there, with them, with their families, and friends. This is the real narrative.

We are proud to present the images in our “virtual gallery” and we sincerely hope you enjoy them. To learn more about the project feel free to visit the project page.


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Dream - “We must dare to dream, dare to act and dare to believe. You must dream in order to do the impossible possible.” - Hadisa, 14 years old.
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Pride - “I am looking at my beautiful country.” - Arman, Nevzat & Kostas, 14 years old.
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Adventure - “What kind of adventure is to be found beyond the forest? In a country without war one dares to be an adventurer. Challange and strive for freedom and you can create your own adventure.” - Ahmet T & Haytem, 14 years old.
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Hope - “Everyone can feel hope. Especially if you survive the tough times.” - Asim, 14 years old.
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Enligthment - “Enligthment is the path. I become motivated by learning about others in order to contribute to understanding and peace.” Adam, 14 years old.
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Family - “We are all one little stone in the worlds oceans and together we matter.” - Himanshu, 14 years old.
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Peace - “The drop symbolizes peace and quiet, but also that the road leading to it is turbulent.” - Mikael & Joshamen, 14 years old.
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Ambition - “Although the road is dirty, long and difficult your ambistion will take you to your destination.” - Safah, 14 years old.
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Openess - “We want our picture to give you the oopposite feeling of a closed door.” - Rojin & Lejla, 14 years old.
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Creativity - “These robots has been outside the school for a long time and I consider them very creative and they also symbolizes childhood.” - Mikael, 14 years old.
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Inequality - “Childhood is an age where you should be happy. You should not worry about money and work However, in some countries children work to support their families and do not get the childhood they deserve. All children deserves a perfect childhood.” - Annie, 14 years old.
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Friendship - “Everyone needs someone to be close to and trust.” - Umar, Monir, Abdullah (Richard & Lotta), 14 years old.
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Dream - “Always follow your dreams because our dreams are our inner wish.” - Paris, Nisa & Kevser, 14 years old.
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Leisure - “I want to be able to be free and dream and see possibilities in life.” - Baran Y & Berat, 14 years old.
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Environment - “We all have diffrent perspectives and possibilities but we only have one earth to take of.” Khaybar, Berat, Secil & Baran Y, 14 years old.
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Silence - “If everyone listens and try to understand without interrupting and instead listens in silence we can create peace.” - Safah, 14 years old.
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Equality - “I chose the word equality because it is an important component of society. It is important to be who you choose to be and that all have the same opportunities and rights.” - Khaybar, Baran Y & Berat, 14 years old.
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Peace - “The meeting between humans and nature, freedom, stillness and peace.” -Patrycja & Dorin, 14 years old.
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Community - “We all reflects eachother and belong together. The water symbolizes all humans past and future.” - Alexandru, 14 years old.
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Choice - “To take another route does not make you stupid, but brave. To follow others does not make you special but rather a copy. Be original and unexpected.” - Dimi & Arman, 14 years old.
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Hope - “The rays of the sun is aiming at the fotball field wher I feel hope.” - Alexandru, 14 years old.
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Family - “Here lives many families, the road leads to the nature and all the beautiful trees.” - Abdullah, 14 years old.
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Freedom - “You are free to make the choices you want.” - Ahmet C, 14 years old.
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Safety - “The work starts in school. We must stop the violence and stop using weapons so innocent people dont die”. - Ahmet M & Hovig, 14 years old.
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Love - “We must love ourself in order to love others. Give love and you will get love. Karma.” - Arosha, 14 years old.
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Friendship - “I want to embrace my friends and show them how meaningful they are to me.” - Fatima & Mailaika, 14 years old.
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Hope - “The ligth is falling on the place that needs peace. No freedom, no choice but dont despair. Ligth gives hope.” - Timur & Rida, 14 years old.
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Safety - “Life is at times fragile and must be protected with warmth and love.” - Hadisa, 14 years old.
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Unique - “The flower is unique in its surrounding. Don’t forget to be as colourful as you want!” - Dimi, 14 years old.
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Voice - “Your voice can be heard and make a difference . Your voice can make the world change. Use your voice. Your voice counts!”. - Arman, 14 years old.
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Longing - “All humans longs for something or someone.” - Berdan, Baran & Tarik, 14 years old.
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Hope - “The future is bright. Catch the ligth. Always think that if there is ligth there is freedom.” - Timur & Rida, 14 years old.
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Education - “Make yourself more well versed so you can make a difference and help both yourself and your surroundings.” - Arman, 14 years old.
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Future - “I chose this word because when the trian goes in to the tunnel no one knows what to find on the other side. This goes for us huans in the future. No one knows what will happen.” Annie, 14 years old.
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Silence - “By the water I feel freedom and tranquility. I can sit here in silence and listen to the sound of the nature.” - Nisa & Nur, 14 years old.
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Diversity - “In our house there are many nationalities and cultures. It smells of food everyday ad we have a good connection. At times the neighbours comes over and drinks tea.” - Tara & Baran K, 14 years old.
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Childhood - “All children deserve a safe childhood.” - Hadisa, 14 years old.
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Courage - “In the darkness there is always ligth that will guide you. Dare to follow your inner compass”. - Hadisa, 14 years old.
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Love - “You are our everything, you are the beginning and the continuation of our lives. Be friends with yourself, I will never hurt you. I am not everyone, and can do much but let us be friends. I will never harm you. Thank you for everything, you are my fortune, I love you....nature.” - Timur & Rida, 14 years old.
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Independence - “To be independent does not mean loneliness. It means that you are not dependent on someone and to dare to handle all the problems by yourself.” - Arman, 14 years old.
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Independence - “The girl is looking up and into the future. She must learb to stand up for herself and create her own freedom.” - Fatima & Malaika, 14 years old.
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Freedom - “Freedom means the possibilities to explore the world, say your opinion and vote.” - Arman, 14 years old.
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Future - “For every year that pass by you climb a bit higher, become wiser and get closer to your future.” - Hadisa, 14years old.

Photo Essay: Based on a FPC project in Stockholm


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The project engaged eight-graders from Fittjaskolan - the local middle school in Botkyrka. It was carried out in partnership with Multicultural Center (MKC) and Fittjaskolan Botkyrka Norra. The project was funded by Botkyrka Municipality through Kreativa Fonden.

Website & graphic profile by fallckolm.com

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