In July and August 2025 two members of our team, Jane Freedman and Glenda Santana de Andrade travelled to eThekwini (Durban) South Africa. Working in collaboration with colleagues from the HEARD team at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Refugee Social Services (RSS), we organised participatory photography/photovoice and podcasting workshops with five groups of young people.
Building on the ideas and opinions expressed by the young people during our previous visit, these workshops employed photography/photovoice and podcasting as creative methods for engagement, expression, mutual learning and co-production of knowledge. The aim was to provide safe, inclusive spaces where young people could learn new skills, enjoy themselves, and have room to express their own ideas and experiences through different media. We worked on photography and podcasting to explore various themes important to them such as Identity, Belonging & Difference, Afrophobia / Racism / Xenophobia, Education, Bullying, Documentation.
Photovoice Workshops
In the photography sessions, participants were invited to express their perspectives through the lens of a camera. A professional photographer facilitated the first session, introducing foundational skills in framing, composition, and lighting. Each week, participants created images inspired by their lived experiences and the overarching theme of belonging. These photographs were then collectively discussed in group sessions, offering space for dialogue, interpretation, and reflection.
Photovoice was not just a method—it was a process of co-creation and critical inquiry. Through photography, participants explored identity, community, and the meanings of inclusion and exclusion from their own vantage points. The photographs they took will be printed and exhibited to the public during two exhibitions in November 2025 and February 2026.
Podcast Workshops
The podcasting workshops offered a different but equally powerful mode of storytelling. Over four weeks, participants co-created a podcast that amplified their voices and experiences as young people navigating life in South Africa. They chose the themes, wrote scripts, conducted interviews, and edited the final recordings.
Podcasting was approached not only as a technical skill but as a medium for resistance, storytelling, and connection. These workshops provided a space for participants to articulate challenges, celebrate strengths, and engage critically with their social realities. The podcasts they made will be available shortly via the GRABS website.
The outputs of these workshops are coming up on our website. Don’t miss them!