ImAge PhotoVoice Project

The participants were all trained in the use of photography as a way to communicate what is important to them. They were also encouraged to capture the details of their lives and homes that they feel others may not be aware of, but which affect their wellbeing and happiness. Two great grandchildren of one of the older people were also included so that they could give their perspectives on the support and care they receive living with an older person. Local HelpAge staff were also given PhotoVoice training in digital photography techniques, image ethics, and the use of participatory photography with beneficiary communities. This was intended to enable staff to give more people the opportunity to represent themselves, their experiences, and challenges through photography, while also gaining new skills and having fun documenting the experiences and people in their lives that they want to celebrate and remember.

An exhibition of photographs and a project reception was held in the reputed Asni Gallery in Addis Ababa on August 31 2013. The event was attended by the photographers, staff of the community centres that support them, and public visitors. The participants were presented with certificates of achievements, and were on hand to explain their photographs to interested visitors asked questions and gave feedback on their favourites. An expanded version of the exhibition was showcased during the 'Week of Older People' in October 2013, which started on the International Day of Older People on October 1. The intention of the week is to engage older people in public activities and events to raise awareness of the positive contribution they have and can have in society.

Click here to view the photographs online.

Older People, Poverty

PhotoVoice works with a broad methodology which is tailored to the needs of participants in each project. It is a methodology that builds on the power and potential of photography as a flexible and empowering tool that is at once, accessible, therapeutic, influential, and communicative. PhotoVoice's ethos is framed around a set of core values, central to this is sharing, learning, and working to improve methods, building awareness of responsible practice and ethical working, and maximising impact in the field of participatory photography. Participants work with PhotoVoice facilitators over a series of workshops to learn photographic and digital media techniques, build skills and confidence, initiate group and personal photography projects, and find, explore and define their "photographic voice." The content, length, and frequency of workshops varies in each project.

Photograph© Matt Daw/PhotoVoice