Bringing community voices into decision-making processes
"Pictures and stories provide people a way to reflect on their own lives and to talk together about what they want to protect and what they want to make better."
Ann McBride Norton, Founder
(1944 - 2020)
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Photovoices International leads the way for under-represented communities, especially women and youth, to have a say in the decisions that impact their lives. Our work is grounded in the principles of participatory photography and the core values of social justice including diversity, equity, inclusion, access, participation, and rights.
We aim to address social injustice by creating pathways for under-represented communities to participate in the development policies and decisions that impact their lives and the environments where they live, learn and work.
Photovoices International encourages participants to share their knowledge and experiences, gives them the space and resources to further enrich their understanding and develop positions on issues of concern to them. This results in the meaningful articulation of community perspectives backed-up by powerful visual images. The critical thinking and conversations about core issues, concerns and aspirations involved in the facilitated process ready community members to actively participate in discussions and decisions about issues important to them.
Photovoices International rests on the belief that government and business leaders, scientists and international organizations have much to learn from the men, women and youth who live, learn and work, farm and fish, raise their children, practice their faiths in the program area. Strategies are far more effective when they incorporate local knowledge and perspectives, understand changing cultural landscapes, sacred geography and spiritual practices, and build partnerships with people based on respect.
Guided by our four tenets of honoring voice, safe and ethical practices, informed consent, and transformative facilitation, we are committed to bringing community voices into decision making.
PVI focuses on:
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Promoting sustainable natural resource management and nature-based solutions to climate change
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Amplifying the voices of indigenous people and local communities
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Raising awareness of gender issues
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Uplifting the voices of women and young people
Photovoices’ vision is to empower under-represented communities to articulate their perspectives and improve their lives.
The mission is to engage with and train community members to use visuals and storytelling to influence people and policies, and advocate for positive change.
Grounded in the principle of participatory photography, community members identify, research and document the issues. They articulate community perspectives through photos and stories and inspire collective action to improve their lives.
OUR APPROACH
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PARTICIPANT TRAINING
FACILITATED LEARNING PROCESS
PHOTO AND STORY DEVELOPMENT
WORKSHOPS AND EXHIBITIONS
VILLAGE MEETINGS AND EXHIBITIONS