arts for change

sOCial visons

Social Visions is a Berlin based organization.
We develop participatory art and media projects that give people a voice and strengthen social engagement.
Through participatory visual methods, we foster self-representation, personal development, and collaboration.
Our projects create inclusive spaces for social interaction and shared experiences, bringing marginalized perspectives into focus and encouraging meaningful dialogue within society.

Participatory Visual Methods

At Social Visions, we use participatory visual methods such as photography, collage, and digital storytelling to actively engage people in creative and reflective processes. We create spaces where individuals can visually express their perspectives, experiences, and ideas.Especially where language reaches its limits or complex personal topics are addressed, visual forms of expression open up new paths of communication. They overcome language, cultural, and educational barriers – making voices visible and heard that are often overlooked.Participatory Photography – A Method of Visual Engagement
In many of our projects, we apply the method of participatory photography – one of the most impactful participatory visual approaches. It operates at the intersection of artistic practice, social work, and political education.Participatory photography empowers individuals to make their own perspectives and realities visible through the camera lens. Methodologically, it is based on the PhotoVoice approach (developed by the British organization PhotoVoice) and the emancipatory educational concepts of Paulo Freire. It combines elements of documentary photography with conflict-sensitive educational work in a guided group process.Those who experience societal challenges are the true experts of their own lives. Through participatory photography, people are encouraged to tell their own stories and engage actively in social discourse.Our Expertise
Social Visions e.V. implements participatory projects in international development cooperation, cultural education projects, and social work contexts.Our work is based on three pillars:
Strengthening Self-Representation: Enabling people to tell their own stories.Promoting Skills and Self-Confidence: Developing creative competencies and experiencing self-efficacy.Encouraging Dialogue and Societal Exchange: Initiating dialogue, enabling perspective shifts, and inspiring social change.

Becoming visible.
Telling our own stories.

Mission

At SocialVisions, we believe that everyone has the right to tell their own story.Through participatory visual methods like photography, collage, and digital storytelling, we create spaces where individuals can express their perspectives, reflect on their experiences, and inspire social change.We empower people to become visible, amplify marginalized voices, and foster understanding across cultures and communities. Our work connects artistic practice, social engagement, and political education to strengthen self-representation, build resilience, and spark dialogue for a more inclusive society.We don’t just capture images — we help shape narratives.

Shaping society.

vision

We envision a world where every person has equal rights, opportunities, and the freedom to participate fully in society — regardless of origin, identity, or circumstance.
A world shaped by solidarity, justice, and mutual respect, where all voices matter and diversity is a source of strength.We believe in a just and inclusive world where everyone can live with dignity, freedom, and equal opportunity.

Anja
Pietsch

Anja Pietsch is a documentary photographer and cultural educator. She is particularly passionate about combining visual creative tools with nonviolent action to challenge stereotypes and amplify marginalized voices. In 2012, she co-founded Social Visions and has since led various projects. At Social Visions, Anja is responsible for project design, management, and training implementation.

Friederike
Ruff

Friederike Ruff is a visual artist specializing in collage, who views art as a way of life. With 20 years of experience, she believes that creativity is inherent in everyone. Through participatory workshops worldwide, she helps individuals express their stories and expand their creative vision. At Social Visions, Friederike is responsible for training implementation, and the design of visual outputs.

Mari
Boman

Mari is a Finnish photographer who works on research-based documentary projects and is engaged in community work. She is particularly interested in discovering and unraveling the layers of complex stories and histories embedded in landscapes, architecture, everyday objects, and culture. Passionate about analogue and alternative photographic processes, she values the slow and thoughtful creative journey. At Social Visions, Mari supports the team as a trainer.

Wael
Toubaji

Wael Toubaji is a Berlin-based visual artist and filmmaker working with animation and moving images. He is particularly interested in using animation as a tool for self-expression and creative empowerment. Through experimental and collaborative workshops, he supports individuals in exploring their own stories and developing their creative potential. At Social Visions, Wael is engaged as a trainer.

Katarzyna
Kowalska

under construction

Karina
Manukyan

Karina Manukyan is based in Yerevan, Armenia, and has been active in non-formal education since 2013, focusing on well-being and personal development coaching. She is the founder of the Colibri Youth Development Center and a board member of the Harmony Youth Association Prague (Czech Republic). At Social Visions, Karina works as a project coordinator for Erasmus+ projects.

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in process

Oksana Nazymok

Oksana Nazymok is the founder of the Educational and Cultural Center “On the Wings of Art” in Ukraine. With a Master’s in International Relations and as a former EVS volunteer, she works as a youth worker and trainer in non-formal education. A dance champion, teacher, and choreographer, she focuses on the link between body movement and mental health.

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in process

Our projects

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• Workshops

• Train-the trainer

• going public

Workshops

Our workshops combine creative and technical skills, empowering participants to use visual art as a tool for telling their own stories. Together, they explore identity, share experiences, and create visual narratives about their lives and futures.
The workshops offer a balance between individual discovery and getting closer to others.By learning new techniques and expressing themselves in a safe, supportive space, participants build confidence and trust in their abilities — with a lasting impact on their personal growth.
Our workshops vary in length and can last
from one day to several months.We offer:
➢ Hands-on lessons in photography, collage, and digital storytelling
➢ Opportunities for self-expression and advocacy
➢ Biographical and narrative work
➢ A dialogue forum and playful community building
➢ A safe space to process personal experiences and connect with the world through artLearn more about our workshops

Train the Trainer

Our Train-the-Trainers program equips participants (youth workers, activists, NGO members) with the skills to integrate participatory art practices into their youth and community work. This course offers a hands-on introduction to designing, managing, and facilitating participatory art projects, with a strong focus on practical, ethical, and inclusive approaches.Participants will explore non-formal education methods, community development, and the use of creative tools for dialogue, advocacy, and empowerment. Through group work and interactive sessions, they will design their own projects and implement a supervised micro-workshop.
The course combines theory, practice, and playful methods to ensure active involvement and meaningful learning.Participants will gain:
➢ Practical skills in participatory photography and art methods
➢ Provide knowledge about participatory visual methods to enhance people’s involvement,
especially in deprived or multi-ethnic communities
➢ Experience in designing inclusive, creative, and ethical projects
➢ New approaches for working with diverse communitiesLearn more about our Train the Trainer program

Going public

Learn more about our exhibitions and publications

collaboration

Social Visions partners with NGOs, community organisations, and humanitarian actors to design and implement participatory visual projects that amplify lived experiences. Our creative, reflective methods help people tell their stories with dignity, power, and agency—placing their voices at the centre of the work.We have collaborated with local and international organisations and institutions such as GIZ,  Museum Neuruppin, Institut für Auslandbeziehungen e.V., On the Wings of Art (Kyiv), La Bibliothèque nationale (Tunis) among others.We’re especially interested in working with partners committed to child and youth wellbeing, community resilience, healing from trauma, and inclusive development.

How to work together

Participatory Visual Projects
Community-led art and photography projects that build connection, voice, and belonging.Joint Facilitation
Co-lead creative workshops or trainings with your staff, youth, or communities.Going Public
Showcase participant work via exhibitions, reports, toolkits, books, campaigns, or events.Artistic & Qualitative Research
Use visual methods for evaluation, storytelling, or community-based research.Train-the-Trainer
Equip teams with creative, participatory, and trauma-sensitive methods.Consulting & Mentoring
Strategic support for using creative approaches in youth work, mental health, migration, and post-conflict contexts.

supporters, partners and friends

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