Enhancing youth living skills: using photovoice in assessing sustainable livelihood strategies

• Main Authors: Md. Yassin, Sulaiman, Mohamed Shaffril, Hayrol Azril
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2013
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/65049/1/ICYOUTH2013-1.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/65049/
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

The youth is one crucial component of society that should be accorded adequate sustainable livelihood pathways for them to build productive lives. However, much depends on a country’s policies and programmes that are available, implemented and well-supported by the government and the private sector. One potential pathway is in providing good living skills for them to lead sustainable and productive lives. PhotoVoice is a qualitative research technique that has been experimented with worldwide, to empower the youth to enquire and conduct grounded analysis of specific concerns, phenomena and real situations that they perceive as relevant to local contexts and capture in photographs. Individually and in groups, the youth can discuss and examine the pictures so captured and interpret their findings as well as derive possible solutions and viable response. In the effort to empower the youth, the PhotoVoice offer many lessons to be learnt. The initial reaction to the approach is well received by local youth and the preliminary impact indicate that they can better use their skills in enhancing their voice in local development settings.