WeCare’s PhotoVoice Activity Builds Family-Friendly Workplaces, One Photo Story at a Time

Photo: a worker from Cambodia introducing her PhotoVoice poster during a recent PhotoVoice activity at her factory

A photograph can capture a moment, but PhotoVoice gives parent workers a way to turn that moment into a story, share it with others and, along the way, create more opportunities to connect with their children.

PhotoVoice is an activity within The Centre’s WeCare programme, which works with factories and suppliers to strengthen family-friendly workplace practices. It has been rolled out in countries including China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The activity begins with several rounds of training delivered by The Centre’s staff. Parent workers learn basic photography skills and how to use images to communicate and tell stories. They are then given a camera to use after-hours and during home leave, capturing moments from their lives as both workers and parents.

But taking the photograph is only the beginning. Workers and their families use the photos to create their own PhotoVoice posters, colouring, drawing, decorating and discussing the stories behind the images together. For some families, the activity creates a rare opportunity to slow down and spend intentional time together.

For one mother in China, looking at the photographs of her daughter prompted her to reflect on her own childhood and the kind of relationship she wants to have with her daughter:

“While making the poster, seeing the printed photos of my child reminded me of my own childhood. Back then, my parents were very strict with me and there wasn't much communication between us."

The experience made her think about the relationship she wants to build with her own daughter.

“I don’t want my daughter to have the same impression of me or feel that she didn’t receive enough care and love from me. Through participating in this activity, I feel that I should make some changes."

For her, those changes don't have to be complicated. They can start with making more time for the family and creating memories together:

“I can spend more time taking my family out, getting some fresh air, and capturing more happy moments in our lives."

Once the posters are completed, they become part of an exhibition at the factory. Workers can browse their colleagues’ stories and vote for their favourite photo stories, turning what began as a family activity into a shared experience across the workforce.

Photo: The PhotoVoice exhibition display in a factory in Cambodia that is implementing the WeCare programme

Everyone receives a certificate and keeps their photo story, while winning entries receive additional prizes. The aim isn't simply to find the best photograph. It's to recognise participation, creativity and the personal stories behind the images.

In a recent PhotoVoice activity in China, the voting process also provided an opportunity to strengthen worker-management collaboration. The Family Friendly Workplace Committee (FFWC) took responsibility for counting the votes, giving the committee a practical role in delivering WeCare activities and helping build the capacity needed to continue the work over the longer term.

Photo: A worker in China votes for his favourite PhotoVoice poster

A supplier manager in Cambodia saw first-hand how the activity changed the way the factory viewed family engagement:

“At first, it seemed like a simple activity, but when workers received their printed photos, spent time decorating their posters, and presented their stories to the audience, we saw how meaningful the experience was."

The manager added that the activity created “a strong connection with the participants” and helped the factory management team recognise the value of this approach.

And for workers, the impact can continue long after the posters come down. One female worker in Cambodia said the activity encouraged her to rethink how she spent her time at home:

“This experience inspired me to rearrange my daily schedule and set aside at least 30 minutes each day to play with them, help them with their homework and spend quality time together. This simple change has brought us closer and strengthened my relationship with my children."

PhotoVoice is just one part of WeCare, but it's a simple and creative way to bring family connection into the workplace conversation. By giving parent workers the skills, space and opportunity to tell their own stories, it can help strengthen communication between parents and children while helping workers feel that their workplace recognises and cares about what matters to them and their families.

Photo: The Centre's staff with workers in China who recently completed the PhotoVoice activity