Click Click: Photo-Voicing
Participants capture images representing their feelings, ideas, and stories related to a specific topic or theme. These visual narratives offer a unique and impactful way for young people to communicate and share their voices, fostering meaningful dialogue and understanding.
Level of participation
Information
Voicing Opinions
Duration of participation process
Preparation: 1 week to prepare technical instructions
Implementation: 2 days
Follow-up: A couple of days for analysis and documentation
Target group size
< 25 people
Costs
$
Human resources needed
At least two persons for preparation, moderation and documentation
The method: what is it, when to use it and what outcome to expect
Photos have the potential to bridge generational, linguistic, cultural, and ideological divides and unite people around shared emotions and experiences. This approach allows young people to express themselves creatively while actively engaging with their surroundings. The method is particularly suitable when working with young people across language barriers or illiteracy, since photography is used as a common tool. This method centres young people’s voices and empowers them to share their viewpoints, concerns, and ideas. Through photography, young people develop communication skills as they learn to effectively convey messages, tell stories, and capture the essence of their subject matter.
The visual documentation created through this method can serve as an advocacy tool. Accompanied by compelling captions, the photographs can be exhibited on- and offline to spread powerful messages and stimulate a collective dialogue about topics relevant for youth.
The process: how to conduct it in an in-person setting or online using a PC/laptop with video option
1. Introduction: Explain the purpose, goals, and expected outcomes of the activity. Provide guidance on how to use the camera or mobile phone for capturing photographs effectively and in a meaningful way, respecting privacy rights.
2. Topic Selection: Choose a specific topic for the photography activity or let the youth themselves decide on the topic. Ensure that the topic is relevant and meaningful to the participants.
3. Photography Sessions: Encourage participants to take photos based on the topic to tell their stories. Support them to be creative and experiment with different angles, perspectives, and subjects.
4. Group Discussion and Reflection: Initiate a group discussion where participants can present and explain their selected photos. Encourage them to share the story behind each image, the message they intended to convey, and the emotions they captured.
5. Sharing and Documentation: Compile the selected photographs and consider creating a digital or physical exhibition to showcase the participants’ work. In an in-person setting, this can involve printing and displaying the photos. In an online setting, you can create a shared digital album or use presentation software to showcase the images.
6. Outreach: Cooperate with schools, universities, religious or cultural institutions, local authorities, etc. to promote the photo exhibition. Depending on the budget, a road show of the exhibition can be organized together with the youths.
Blended participation
In addition to the offline exhibition, a social media campaign can be organized around the photo exhibition. For example, the exhibition can be launched live on social media platforms such as Facebook and the selected photos can be posted on platforms such as Instagram. The method can be used as the starting point of a broader participation process.
Digital communication
Zoom, Webex, Teams, Miro, Skype
Good to know
- Sharing the stories behind the photos can trigger traumatic memories. Depending on the topic, make sure you provide a safe space and arrange for mental health support.
- If the exhibition of results is done online, ensure using a platform that can handle the data-upload.
- Consider using digital participation platforms (e.g. Consul, Adhocracy+, Citizen OS) to reference a dialogue and upload photos and text.
- Useful tools to document the process, idea collection and results are Mural or Miro.
- Especially when working with visual and photographic material with children, make sure to obtain legal consent by children and legal guardians.
For more information: https://www.giz.de/en/aboutgiz/37500.html