The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Uganda

In the Global South children with disabilities have often been left out of research projects. A method which has the potential to increase inclusion of children with disabilities in research is participatory photography and video. In this participatory research project 32 children with disabilities...

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Main Authors: Femke Bannink Mbazzi, Elizabeth Shalom Kawesa, Ruth Nalugya, Janet Seeley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Cincinnati 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Participatory Research Methods
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.35844/001c.123887
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author Femke Bannink Mbazzi
Elizabeth Shalom Kawesa
Ruth Nalugya
Janet Seeley
author_facet Femke Bannink Mbazzi
Elizabeth Shalom Kawesa
Ruth Nalugya
Janet Seeley
author_sort Femke Bannink Mbazzi
collection DOAJ
description In the Global South children with disabilities have often been left out of research projects. A method which has the potential to increase inclusion of children with disabilities in research is participatory photography and video. In this participatory research project 32 children with disabilities and their peers aged 8 to 14 living in Central Uganda, were asked to describe their daily life experiences through drawings, photos, and films. The project was nested within a larger intervention study which aims to improve inclusion, which used an African childhood disability studies framework with Afrocentric methods, involving the children's family and community networks. In five participatory workshops, each followed by home and school follow up visits, children co-created 3 short films and 1 documentary film together with their peers, family members, teachers, and communities. The short films and documentary were shared with stakeholders and have been utilized by civil society organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities in advocacy and training initiatives on disability inclusion in Uganda and abroad. Participants felt positive about the outcomes, going forward they suggested making more short films featuring the experiences of children with different types of impairments to build the confidence of children with disabilities, reduce stigma and advocate for family and community support. Participatory film is a feasible and meaningful way of including children with disabilities in research in the Global South when we acknowledge the importance of interdependence, step away from predefined ideas, reflect on voice and hierarchy, make ethical considerations, and allow space and time for a nonlinear and complex process.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2688-0261
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publisher University of Cincinnati
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series Journal of Participatory Research Methods
spelling doaj-art-9a19f70cf4414227bb75ff2c17de65142024-12-31T16:42:46ZengUniversity of CincinnatiJournal of Participatory Research Methods2688-02612024-12-0154The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in UgandaFemke Bannink MbazziElizabeth Shalom KawesaRuth NalugyaJanet SeeleyIn the Global South children with disabilities have often been left out of research projects. A method which has the potential to increase inclusion of children with disabilities in research is participatory photography and video. In this participatory research project 32 children with disabilities and their peers aged 8 to 14 living in Central Uganda, were asked to describe their daily life experiences through drawings, photos, and films. The project was nested within a larger intervention study which aims to improve inclusion, which used an African childhood disability studies framework with Afrocentric methods, involving the children's family and community networks. In five participatory workshops, each followed by home and school follow up visits, children co-created 3 short films and 1 documentary film together with their peers, family members, teachers, and communities. The short films and documentary were shared with stakeholders and have been utilized by civil society organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities in advocacy and training initiatives on disability inclusion in Uganda and abroad. Participants felt positive about the outcomes, going forward they suggested making more short films featuring the experiences of children with different types of impairments to build the confidence of children with disabilities, reduce stigma and advocate for family and community support. Participatory film is a feasible and meaningful way of including children with disabilities in research in the Global South when we acknowledge the importance of interdependence, step away from predefined ideas, reflect on voice and hierarchy, make ethical considerations, and allow space and time for a nonlinear and complex process.https://doi.org/10.35844/001c.123887
spellingShingle Femke Bannink Mbazzi
Elizabeth Shalom Kawesa
Ruth Nalugya
Janet Seeley
The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Uganda
Journal of Participatory Research Methods
title The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Uganda
title_full The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Uganda
title_fullStr The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Uganda
title_full_unstemmed The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Uganda
title_short The ‘Obuntu Bulamu’ Visual Narratives: Participatory Research and Film Making About Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Uganda
title_sort obuntu bulamu visual narratives participatory research and film making about inclusion of children with disabilities in uganda
url https://doi.org/10.35844/001c.123887
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