What is photovoice?
___Photovoice is a type of participatory action research in which people – usually those with little power – use photographs and/or video to picture their environment and experiences and to express their thoughts about them
The goals of photovoice:
___To provide a voice for those who have none
___To instill critical consciousness
___To influence policy
Why should you use photovoice?
___The rewards of taking photographs are immediate
___Photography is both fun and creative
___Taking photographs or videos of familiar scenes and people can change participants’ perceptions about their social and physical environment
___Basic photography is easy to learn and accessible to almost everyone
___“A picture is worth a thousand words”
___Images can be understood regardless of language, culture, or other factors
___Policy makers can’t deny reality when it’s staring them in the face
___Pictures, by creating a clear record of what exists at a particular point in time, can be used to hold policy makers and others accountable
___Photography and video provide a means for empowerment without requiring people to stand up and speak in public
Who should use photovoice?
___People who lack a voice in the community or society
___Children and youth in difficult circumstances
___Homeless adults and families
___People with physical and mental disabilities or mental health issues
___People with chronic diseases or medical conditions – tuberculosis, diabetes, heart disease, etc.
___Members of racial, ethnic, linguistic, religious or cultural minorities
___People whose way of life is threatened
___People who are discriminated against because of class, caste, way of life, or poverty
___The rural poor
___People who live in difficult or unacceptable conditions and want to change them
Some types of organizations that could benefit by using photovoice with participants:
___Schools and other organizations that work with children and youth
___Orphanages, group houses, homeless shelters, and other living situations for those who need care
___Organizations that work with people whose needs and humanity are commonly ignored
___Community health centers and similar health providers
___Organizations that serve people with physical and mental disabilities or mental health issues
___Advocacy organizations or health and human service organizations that include advocacy in their mission
___International aid and refugee organizations
When might you use photovoice?
___When photovoice can change people’s opinions about themselves and their environment
___When a group’s situation needs to be publicized
___When a problem needs to be publicized
___When change is necessary, and photovoice can help sway policy makers
___When a community assessment is needed or in progress
___When you need to document the process of or gather data for an evaluation of an intervention or program
___When you need to hold policy makers or others accountable
___When you need to document a site, an event, or a way of life that is threatened or about to disappear
How do you use photovoice?
___Photovoice should be a participatory, collaborative process from the beginning
___Participants and staff need training
___Participants need support
___The project should result in some action
Putting together a photovoice project:
___Recruit participants, a mentor/facilitator, and staff/volunteers
___Plan the project with the community or group you’re working with
___Train participants:
- Technical training
- Training in ethical and safe photography in various situations.
- Group-building and training in working in a group.
___Train staff and/or volunteers:
- Technical training.
- Group facilitation.
- Basic counseling skills.
- Structure and aims of the project.
___Get out and take pictures
___Work regularly in small groups to discuss and reflect on the experience and the pictures, and to choose each participant’s best photographs or video sequences
___Stage an exhibit of participants’ photographs or videos
___Take action
___Follow up
___Evaluate
___Do it again