PHOTOVOICE WORKSHOPS
I design, organise and carry out photovoice workshops.
This resource is designed to introduce organisations who advocate on behalf of marginalised or issue-affected communities to an effective tool for involving their beneficiaries in the development and implementation of effective advocacy campaigns and programms
Whatever the issues involved, participatory photography has proven to be a versatile and powerful tool in both meaningfully engaging beneficiaries and reaching those stakeholders who can impact positively on their situation. The act of learning the art of photography and turning the lens onto one’s life or context creates opportunities to explore, study and communicate issues, while the resulting photographs can be powerful and versatile tools for conveying evidence, messages and calls to action to those who can make a difference.
VISIBILIZING FROM THEIR OWN INSIGHT, BREAKING STEREOTYPES
Especially aimed at stigmatized, minority, racialized groups
WE WORK ABOUT THE IDENTITY AND THE SELF-REPRESENTATION
Camera in hand, the participants will represent themselves, as they want to be shown to society
WE EXHIBIT THE BEST PICTURES
We will raise awareness offering another insight on these groups of people
Photography as a tool for personal and social transformation
WHAT DO WE WANT TO INFLUENCE?
We propose to break stories deeply rooted in our culture, which usually represent the mentioned groups from the stereotype and from a power relationship. We accompany them in the photographic self-representation of their identity, fleeing from alien narratives to the groups. We also accompany them in the images interpretation, to think over what we mean with them, what lies behind them, and they also learn photographic techniques in order to have better expression tools.
The representation of the group made by the same group is a tool of personal empowerment and transformation, because it places the emphasis on them as a subject of change, instead of being the photographed object.
HOW WILL WE DO IT?
The participants will think over and decide which aspects of their identity they want to work during the different sessions of the workshop. On each chosen topic we will make a joint reflection and we will tackle how to represent it photographically.
In each session there is a review of the photographs the participants have made during the week. We discuss it together, we analyze how they could technically enhance them.
The workshop involves a process of introspection and collective and individual reflection, and the ability to express it through images and construct a visual narrative. We will show the basic technical elements of photography but of surprising visual effects.
Finally, we propose to exhibit the best pictures, if possible in the street and in large format, to offer to the public that simply passes through the street the own vision of the group without stigmas, filters or stereotypes.
