Photovoice projects typically incorporate several core activities to ensure participatory and effect

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Feb 19, 2014 How can cameras facilitate participation and constructive debate in countries going through democratic transitions? In this fascinating story from Haiti, interview questions Chris Martin explores the transformative potential of photography for community development.   ♦
Tearing down the dusty lane with the last of the printed photographs safely in the back seat, we realised how close we were to being late for the exhibit. There were 30 energetic, young photographers waiting with their families and friends for their moment in the spotlight. They had taken their photos, told their stories, and now it was time to show off their hard work. This was what photovoice was all about, the point where their voice is heard.
Photovoice has typically been used as a research methodology in the field of community development. However, organisations like Project Istwa are now taking this technique a step further interview questions and using it as a transformational means towards empowering a young generation of Haitians. Photographs have always been used to tell stories, but when combined with an engaged discussion, interview questions they can often capture interview questions extremely fine-grained details about a particular group s strengths and needs.
For example, interview questions rather than being endlessly interviewed and studied, marginalised groups like inner city youth , those living with HIV/AIDS or indigenous peop les, are given cameras to show what their everyday life is like. It is even possible to see the potential for the technique to be used for peacebuilding in conflict. This could be particularly successful in communities where divisions have been erected to polarise groups, preventing people from really seeing what others see.
Photovoice projects typically incorporate several core activities to ensure participatory and effective results. To provide participants with a foundation of knowledge and skills, these projects provide a certain level of initial training and allow participants to practice and become comfortable with their cameras.
Once participants have been offered several themes to concentrate on and have taken their photos, the discussions which follow are framed with a key set of questions interview questions . These guide the photographer to discuss what is in the photo, what other meanings are contained in it, how it relates to their life, why the problem, concern or strength displayed exists, and what might be done about it.
The reflective conversations and discussions are meant to be as participatory as possible to ensure ownership and build the confidence of participants along the way. When photovoice is used as intervention for change, the images and stories behind them are then used to inform plans for action within the community.
So what was the result when this was applied in Haiti? This particular photovoice interview questions workshop in Gonaïves with these 30 youths revealed an incredibly strong community. Most of the photographs the youths took which ended up in the exhibit focussed on relatives, friends and neighbours, or community figures who were important to them.
While preparing the exhibit and asking the youths interview questions questions, my tendency had been to ask about needs and problems that the photos might raise. However, seeing the images on the walls that they had chosen displayed a particularly acute awareness of their community. Namely, the connections between people which are made to overcome the challenges they face. The photos were not about, Here is a problem we should fix. More often, it was, Here is a person I look up to and is an influence in my life because of the things they do.
When we discussed general themes with the group, we asked them to consider all angles – positives, negatives, and what they might do about it. What I did not anticipate was that the resulting positive focus on the people in the community demonstrated both the resilience to and resourcefulness in dealing with the negatives.
It was much more challenging to get the group to share their opinions on what they wanted to change. Perhaps it was the limited time we had to earn their trust or even that they had never had the opportunity to express these views before. Whatever