[FoME] Guide to using participatory video

[Christoph Dietz]

Insights into participatory video: a handbook for the field
Lunch, Nick; Lunch, Chris
Oxford: Insight, 2006, 129 p.
Download als PDF unter:
http://www.insightshare.org/training_book.html 

This handbook offers a guideline on how to run Participatory Video (PV) projects. The intended audience includes anyone who wishes to facilitate PV projects. Recognising that PV projects have their pitfalls, the authors call on facilitators of PV to require knowledge and experience of personal and group development processes and to be sensible to the challenges and issues facing vulnerable and marginalized people. Lack of transparency and follow-up, and broken or unreasonable promises will foster disillusionment.

The authors argue that PV is a powerful means of documenting local people's experiences, needs and hopes from their own perspective. It initiates a process of analysis and change that celebrates local knowledge and practice, while also stimulating local and regional creativity. The authors emphasise the importance of granting all community members equal access to the process, so that all voices are expressed and heard.

An outline of the PV process offered by the authors includes:

+ participants are taught how to use the video equipment through games and exercises
+ using PRA tools and PV techniques, facilitators help the group to identify and analyse important community issues
+ short video messages are directed and filmed by the participants
+ footage is shown to the wider community at daily screenings
+ a dynamic process of community-led learning, sharing and exchange is set in motion
+ complete films can be used to promote awareness of the various groups
+ this process helps strengthen both horizontal and vertical communication.

The authors recognise that possible bottlenecks include:

+ limited recognition of the value of PV by home organisation, staff, and funders
+ empowerment and participation of target group may not be the aim of the organisation and/or funder
+ the organisation may be unaware of the importance of participatory forms of communication.
+ lack of equipment or technical problems
+ lack of time and skill to edit footage and implement the pilot project
+ lack of (facilitation) skills to implement the PV pilot project
+ being lost when training is over or the handbook does not offer adequate guidance
+ limited budget for equipment or for spending necessary time on PV.

[Quelle: www.eldis.org]