Reflect

This short article, in the tips for trainers section of the special 50th edition of PLA notes, looks at ways of using cameras to capitalise on the power of the photograph in the Reflect process. Reflect is a participatory approach to adult literacy, based with the international NGO ActionAid. The article looks at how photographs can provoke analysis, can be used for documentary purposes and can be used for advocacy. The article also briefly describes examples from Lesotho and Malawi.

Recent development theory and practice has placed the concepts of participation and empowerment at its core. Despite vast experience across the world in translating these theories into practice, the sharing and systematising of this experience still has far to go, especially in the area of evaluation. Evaluations carried out in traditional ways tend to come up with over-inflated claims while missing out on a wealth of evidence of real changes and achievements, many of which may not have been anticipated by the project managers and planners.