Ondru (Tamil; ஒன்று) n. one, equality; v. become one with. Ondru means the place where people and ideas come together and where diversity unites.
Ondru is a Melbourne-based non-profit humanitarian organisation working towards a more connected, compassionate and equitable society. We use art to provoke thought, evoke feeling and inspire change on issues of social justice. We make people think, feel and act through pioneering art projects that give voice to silent, unheard and misunderstood human stories that express the human condition.
Our projects touch upon social justice issues and experiences such as identity and displacement, Indigenous experience, homelessness, health and well-being and war and violence and. Projects are delivered locally and internationally using many forms of art including photography, theatre, dance, film, music, sculpture, poetry, painting, digital projections, mural and public art installation.
Our most known project is Voiceless Journeys, an art project that aims to celebrate the cultural diversity and raise awareness about the journey, struggle, survival and achievements of people from diverse backgrounds – people who were impacted by displacement.
Our Statement
We give voice to the tenderness of the human condition. We give light to issues that exist in the dark. We create art that emotionally and intellectually connect people. Art enables us to reveal the common threads of humanity that we all share, to evoke the senses, to stimulate dialogue. All change begins with an idea, but it grows with people. Our idea is to build a greater understanding of one another and inspire positive social change. Ondru means a place where people and ideas come together and where diversity unites.