How can photography support political participation?
How can women use images to speak directly to power?

These were some of the questions explored in AGENCY: VOTE WITH HER—a project co-funded by the European Union (2023–2024) and coordinated by the European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW), with femLENS and local organisations in 14 EU countries.

What Was AGENCY?

The aim of AGENCY was to increase political participation among women with migrant backgrounds, especially ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections. Over 50 “changemakers” from diverse cultural and social backgrounds joined the programme, receiving training on:

  • EU institutions and policy-making

  • Campaigning and advocacy

  • Community engagement

  • Photovoice and documentary photography

femLENS introduced photovoice as a key method to help participants express their visions, concerns, and political messages visually—documenting their lives, neighbourhoods, and hopes for change through photography.

Photo by Frohar Poya

What is Photovoice?

Photovoice is a participatory method that combines photography with storytelling and community dialogue. It empowers participants—especially those from underrepresented groups—to speak about the issues that affect their lives and communities through photographs.

It’s not just about taking pictures—it’s about using those images to:

  • Encourage reflection,

  • Build awareness,

  • Challenge stereotypes,

  • Advocate for change.

For this project, femLENS combined photovoice with documentary photography to help women, with no prior photography experience, explore identity, resistance, and belonging.

Changemakers taking part in the photovoice session at the Berlin bootcamp.

What Did the Women Create?

During AGENCY, changemakers used photovoice and documentary photography to create their own local campaigns. These photo stories tackled a wide range of themes:

  • Discrimination in the labour market

  • Cultural invisibility in public life

  • Migrant women’s roles as community leaders

  • Voting rights and civic participation

The images were personal and political. From portraits and protests to symbolic still lifes and architectural details, each story spoke to what it means to be a migrant woman in Europe today.

These campaigns were exhibited, shared online, and in many cases, used as tools to spark community conversations or engage local authorities.

Change-makers based in Belgium, organised an event in KU Leuven, a university in Leuven, Belgium.

Let’s Keep Telling Stories

Photovoice is a flexible, powerful tool. If you’re interested in learning more about how it works—or want to host a workshop or exhibition in your own community—we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us if you:

  • Want to use photovoice in your work

  • Would like to bring a femLENS session to your group

  • Are interested in exhibiting participant stories or supporting new workshops

We believe that every woman has a story worth sharing—and that photography can be a powerful way to tell it.