Our Thematic Areas

Decolonising Development focuses on harnessing the potentials of video-making and Participatory Video (PV) as a transformative tool. In this workshop series, we guide participants in using video to communicate, learn, and document issues within a view to work towards decolonising research and development.

Participants engage in hands-on, experiential learning, collaborating on video-making projects. We emphasise the importance of reflexivity and explore video-making with a critical lens, encouraging participants to explore the political dimensions of framing realities through video. By examining the potential of video-making as a tool for knowledge production and publication, and by incorporating PV as a method for collaborative video-making, we seek to challenge power asymmetries, amplify diverse voices, and foster decolonial epistemologies.

Our workshops address essential questions on the decolonisation agenda, such as incorporating non-Western concepts and cosmologies into positive social change, navigating ethical principles while respecting cultural differences, and challenging power dynamics to ensure equitable representation of marginalised knowledge and voices.
 

By delving into the ethics, politics, and implementation challenges of video-making and PV, participants gain theoretical understanding and practical skills to integrate these approaches into their future research projects. We also provide an academic reading list and can integrate reading group activities if desired.

Since 2020, we have worked with over 100 international agroecological practitioners to support them to develop  skills to use video as a tool for communication, learning, documentation, monitoring, and knowledge exchange.
 

The workshops in this area bring together farmers, training/advocacy  organisations and community members, fostering a practical and interactive environment that encourages mutual support and collaboration.
 

Our workshops with agroecologists emphasise hands-on learning, where participants have the opportunity to work on short video-making tasks related to current topics, practices and issues in the field, that are shared and discussed within the learning group.
 

By the end of the program, participants gain the necessary skills to create edited videos to support their agroecological work. Our workshops enable participants to utilise video as a powerful medium for sharing stories, build their networks,  promote sustainable practices, and advance agroecological knowledge.

Our Women's Video-making and Story Circles thematic area provides a platform for women to learn and engage in the art of storytelling through video.
 

This program aims to empower women to share their experiences and community-building activities using smartphone video and audio stories.

Led by experienced facilitators, this thematic area offers a unique opportunity for women to amplify their voices, create impactful video stories, and experience the power of women's circles.
 

The program includes online meetings, learning resources, and the opportunity to showcase stories in wider networks- for example, we have previously hosted the stories at festivals and created a podcast.
 

Join us in exploring the transformative potential of women's video making and Story Circles as a means of self-expression, empowerment, and community engagement.

EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK WITH WOMEN VIDEO MAKERS:

https://player.sheffield.ac.uk/events/womens-digital-storycircles

https://siid-blog.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/blog/reflections-on-our-zimbabwe-womens-video-story-circle-event-11th-feb-20

https://padaplatform.org/?playlist=688cc10&video=d4ecd08

Our Community Work and Advocacy work is dedicated to equipping individuals and organisations with the knowledge and skills they need to drive positive change in their communities. We work with  participants to explore the intersection of community engagement, video-making, and advocacy, to create meaningful impact.

We offer a comprehensive learning experience, providing participants with practical tools and strategies for effective community work, project planning and advocacy through video. Participants will gain insights into community-driven initiatives, collaborative approaches, and innovative methods to address social issues related to their work. 

Facilitated by experienced practitioners, the program emphasises interactive learning, knowledge sharing, and peer support. Participants have the opportunity to engage in group discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, enabling them to apply their learnings to real-world community projects.