Photovoice as a participatory evaluation method: evaluating a collective kitchen program in Northern Ontario

Abstract

This article describes the evaluation of a collective kitchen program that aimed to provide food education programming to young adults, economically vulnerable community members, and Indigenous families. Photovoice was used as a participatory evaluation method to gain more insight into the impact of the collective kitchen program on the lives of the participants. Photovoice is a research approach that allows people in a community to express their views, concerns, or experiences on issues that are important to them. The objective was to give participants an opportunity to “speak” through photographs about how participating in the program impacted their lives. Photovoice allowed us to capture the true extent of the program’s impact, and ultimately, it became a meaningful and powerful way to help us better understand each participant’s experiences and connect with the issues that created barriers to healthy eating.