In April of 2009, twenty local students were part of our first Photovoice Project. During the project students took pictures based on the twelve social determinants of health. One picture stood out, taken by a Grade 9 male student from ESS. Please watch for the final video product this Fall 2009.
Within a project that is trying to allow youth to see their world in new ways and question what is going on around them, this seemed the quintessential picture for the project, as planting the seeds of ideas is what this is all about. When discussing the meaning of the picture, the student said:
“A tree is standing there because a seed found it’s way there”.
Network 4 Change is looking to launch a second Youth Photovoice Project.
Our Photovoice Project is a research study with youth in our community who are typically under-represented or excluded from participating in community planning and development. Youth in two groups participate: one group from grades seven and eight, and another group from grades nine through twelve.
This is a way of documenting community strengths, challenges and needs for our community youth and initiating dialogue about what is significant to them. Quite simply, it is a way of giving voice by using photography.
We are currently gathering the names of interested youth who wish to be part of our next Photovoice project. We are looking for students from grades 7 to 12.