Wisdom in the workshop: participatory envisioning workshops as an innovative methodology for change dialogues

Social work practitioners and researchers must navigate increasingly complex social issues and require methodological approaches to garner community input for designing their futures. Participatory envisioning workshops (PEWs) are an innovative research methodology grounded in relational approaches to futures studies and participatory research to help participants be forward-looking and strategically address the social challenges they may face. PEWs involve three key phases: (1) sharing narratives, (2) identifying patterns, and (3) envisioning preferred futures. Social work researchers can use this structured approach to engage communities, particularly in marginalised settings, to explore local needs and aspirations. PEWs incorporate the theory of accountable spaces, arts-based data collection methods and participatory analysis activities to ground outcomes in participants’ lived experiences. This article presents the potential of PEWs through two case examples from sub-Saharan Africa, where participants shared their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences related to accessing services in Ghana or delivering community outreach programmes in Kenya. In both cases, participants identified a disconnect between existing SRH educational materials and their realities, highlighting the need for more culturally resonant, youth-informed resources. They co-created practical recommendations, such as using language and metaphors, involving community leaders, and having youth-specific spaces that were non-stigmatising. PEWs positioned participants as active agents to inform future service delivery. In this way, PEWs also contribute to indigenising knowledge by helping interventions reflect participants’ lives, making them a valuable research approach for creating meaningful, contextually relevant social change.