(In)visible Stories: Navigating Visual Participatory Research Methods among Youth with Albinism in Zambia

Abstract

In most African countries, people with albinism are socially hyper-visible due to their physical differences and face multiple levels of discrimination. This paper focuses on utilizing and reflecting on two participatory visual methods in our work with children and youth with albinism during our fieldwork in Zambia. The first part provides an overview of the context of albinism in Africa to outline the research focus and introduces the field research conducted in Lusaka, Zambia. The following section outlines the methodological framework of the research, centering on application of photo-elicitation and photo-diary methods. These approaches enabled us to delve into the lived experiences of our participants, providing rich insights into their interpretations and daily realities. The paper concludes with a reflection and evaluation of these methods, emphasizing their significance in field application and data acquisition, especially when engaging with a marginalized and vulnerable population group.