Bringing community voices into decision-making processes

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 justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. 

 

We aim to address injustice, inequity, and the lack of diversity and inclusion in decision making 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. 

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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.  

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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.