Kenema youth change lives and perceptions with participatory video (PLA 64)
Generally, youth are one of the most neglected and socially-excluded groups in Sierra Leone. As such, they are ill-prepared to meaningfully contribute to decision-making. This article provides insights into how the youth of Kenema district in Sierra Leone successfully used participatory video to engage in governance processes, change citizens’ perceptions about them and position themselves to get elected into district and municipal councils. The article provides a practical guide for young people, youth-serving agencies, development practitioners and local communities to the processes involved in setting up and running local participatory video groups. It is intended to build the confidence of all those wanting to be authors of their own stories to take up the challenge. It also provides a critical contextual analysis of the situations of youth in Sierra Leone, and re-echoes the message of these young citizens that they are prepared and ready to increase their involvement in governance processes.
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA, formerly PLA Notes) is the world's leading series on participatory approaches and methods. PLA publishes articles on participation aimed at practitioners, researchers, academics and activists. All articles are peer-reviewed by an international editorial board. See: www.planotes.org
Keywords: Children, youth, young people, child rights, participatory governance.
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Available at https://www.iied.org/g03193