Yogyakarta, 9 October 2025 – YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) through the IDEAKSI programme held a training session on Storytelling Through Photography for Innovation Practice Documentation on 7 and 8 October 2025 at two locations, namely the University Club UGM for innovators in Bantul, Kulon Progo, Sleman and Yogyakarta City; and at the Santika Gunungkidul Hotel for innovators in Gunungkidul.
This training was facilitated by Ms Pradytia Pertiwi, S.Psi., Ph.D., and attended by representatives from 15 IDEAKSI 2.0 innovator groups. The activity aims to strengthen the innovators' ability to document their innovation practices using the photo storytelling or photo voice approach – a method of storytelling through photographs that combines visual and narrative power to convey messages, impacts, and social changes occurring in the community.
As many as 99% of participants had never attended photo voice training before, but they considered this method to be very interesting and relevant to the needs of the group. In the evaluation, the innovators conveyed positive impressions from the evaluation results (anonymous), such as:
"It's very good, because with photos and stories, we can better understand the meaning behind the photos."
“I see photographs as a powerful storytelling tool for conveying experiences and as a means of evaluation that shows the tangible changes brought about by a programme.”
In addition to gaining knowledge about photo voice, participants also learned how to compose compelling narratives while respecting the principles of safeguarding and consent from the subjects of the photographs. One of the challenges that arose was how to write powerful narratives and obtain permission from the people photographed. The innovators addressed this (by writing in the evaluation) in various ways, such as only showing certain parts of the body (e.g. hands) or taking photos from behind to maintain privacy.
They also said that, for groups whose members are mostly elderly, the process of taking photos and telling stories is a challenge in itself. However, with the assistance of the IDEAKSI team and facilitators, participants are encouraged to practise photo voice in their respective communities. After the training, the innovators will collect photo voice stories from the community by 20 October 2025 at the latest. The results will form part of IDEAKSI's learning product, which will be used for learning, advocacy, and promotion of local innovation to stakeholders, including local governments and relevant agencies.
This activity is part of IDEAKSI's commitment to continuously strengthen inclusive and sustainable community-based innovation documentation. Through the photo voice approach, innovators are expected to be able to "invite the community to tell their stories" and show how their innovations bring real change and resilience to the communities around them.
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Author: Desy Putri Ratnasari (Communications, Information and Secretariat Staff, YAKKUM Emergency Unit)