image International Conference on Social Media and Communication Technologies December, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Caravan Project participatory filmmaking and social change at Aegean University, Lesvos

The whole creative process of the team in Caravan Project is based on a co-creation strategy. ‘Collaborative’ and ‘collective’ imply a shared vision and implementation process, rather than focus on the ability of the most empowered people in the room to implement their own agenda. Our practise focuses on things like process, rather than simply final, privileged product; What is important for us Is the constant evaluation of the process which is based on a formed but not rigid methodology. Our experience in the past working in difficult neighborhoods or with marginalized communities (Metaxourgeio, Roma, Prisons, Refugees) taught us that after a rigorous research on the community on the topic, we form our methodology and practices adjusting every time differently to the needs of each com munity, learning from them, often improvising or create different dynamics on the project if necessary.  Caravan project team is an interdisciplinary team with architects, filmmakers, journalists, artists, anthropologists that all contribute to the project from their own expertises. We strongly believe in the diversity of our team as a way to tackle and address issues from different perspectives and backgrounds 

Our aim working with disenfranchised communities  is to empower self-expression and open up for them a range of possibilities through their connection with other creative initiatives  Our aim is to give the participants the opportunity to articulate their own voice, to transform it into a narrative discourse, into images and sounds, re-interpreting their relationships with space/ topos and build bridges of communication with the rest of their surrounding Athenians. Our urge is to create both an organic and digital space of stories, reflecting values of diversity, collaboration and solidarity and inspire others following the same paths with the documented initiatives. 

Participatory monitoring and evaluation recognises that to obtain information and learning that truly reflects programme impact, the people who have had first-hand experiences of the programme must play a central role in the process, define their own measures of success, and assess whether a programme responds appropriate- ly to the real life aspirations of the community. Consequently, using participatory methodologies can promote a positive cycle of sharing, learning, reflecting, and transforming. 

When working for social change, it is not always easy to gauge and communicate what a programme or activity has meant to the lives of those it was meant to reach. Those best placed to explore and convey these messages are the project participants themselves, who can speak first-hand about impacts and outcomes, and highlight what is most valuable and important for them. Using participatory video can help participants tell their stories and communicate their perspectives in an accessible, compelling and versatile format through a participatory process. 

Participatory monitoring and evaluation involves the assessment of change through processes that involve many people or groups, each of whom is affecting or affect- ed by the impacts being assessed. Negotiation leads to agreement on how progress should be measured and the findings acted upon. It is a challenging process for all concerned, as different stakeholders must examine their assumptions about what constitutes progress – and together deal with the contradictions and conflicts that emerge. (Guijit, 1999, p.1) 

Participatory Video (PV) is a set of techniques to involve a group or community in shaping and creating their own film. The idea behind this is that making a video is easy and accessible, and is a great way of bringing people together to explore issues, voice concerns or simply to be creative and tell stories. The process can be very empowering, enabling a group or community to take action to solve their own problems and also to communicate their needs and ideas to decision-makers and/ or other groups and communities. As such, PV can be a highly effective tool to engage and mobilise marginalised people and to help them implement their own forms of sustainable development based on local needs. 

When working for social change, it is not always easy to gauge and communicate what a programme or activity has meant to the lives of those it was meant to reach. Those best placed to explore and convey these messages are the project participants themselves, who can speak first-hand about impacts and outcomes, and highlight what is most valuable and important for them. Using participatory video can help participants tell their stories and communicate their perspectives in an accessible, compelling and versatile format through a participatory process.