Beyond engagement in working with children in eight Nairobi slums to address safety, security and housing: Digital tools for policy and community dialogue

Abstract

This article studies the ways in which researchers working in the area of health and social research and using participatory visual methods might extend the reach of participant-generated creations such as photos and drawings to engage community leaders and policy makers. Framed as going ‗beyond engagement‘, the article explores the idea of the production of researcher-led digital dialogue tools, focusing on one example, based on a series of visual arts-based workshops with children from 8 slums in Nairobi addressing issues of safety, security and well being in relation to housing. The authors conclude that there is a need for researchers to embark upon the use of visual tools to expand the life and use of visual productions, and in particular to ensure meaningful participation of communities in social change.