In the frame of our ongoing collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages NGO across three countries: Senegal, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we applied the Participatory Video & The Most Significant Change (PVMSC) methodology. The project aimed to analyze impact and evaluate programs supporting vulnerable children and their communities, focusing on how these interventions foster resilience and change.

PVMSC is a powerful tool for monitoring and evaluation, combining storytelling through participatory video with the Most Significant Change technique. This approach allowed program participants — children, tutors, and stakeholders—to share their personal stories of transformation, focusing on what they saw as the most impactful changes in their lives. By handing the camera to the participants, we gave them the opportunity to shape the narrative, highlighting their unique perspectives on program outcomes.

Through this project, we captured deeply personal accounts of growth, challenges, and resilience, offering valuable insights into how the programs affected participants on an emotional and social level. The participatory nature of the video process not only engaged the community but also created a space for reflection, as participants discussed their stories with others and explored collective interpretations of change.

The PVMSC methodology proved to be an invaluable tool for understanding the complexities of social change within these communities, and the project’s results will guide future program development, ensuring that interventions remain responsive to the real needs and experiences of the people they serve.