Living Between Loss and Adaptation: A Photovoice Study of Internally Displaced Women in a Compact Settlement in Georgia

Protracted displacement remains one of the most significant social consequences of armed conflict. Yet little is known about how internally displaced women themselves experience and interpret everyday life in long-term displacement settings. This study explores the lived experiences of internally displaced women residing in Tserovani, one of the largest compact settlements for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Georgia. Using Photovoice, a participatory visual methodology, the research examined how women understand identity, belonging, health, community life, and future aspirations nearly two decades after displacement from Akhalgori. Data were collected through five Photovoice sessions involving participant-generated photographs, group discussions, and reflective narratives. Thematic analysis revealed five interconnected themes: (1) displacement as an unfinished experience characterized by enduring attachment to home; (2) identities rooted in family, relationships, and meaningful social roles rather than displacement alone; (3) beauty, nature, and everyday practices as sources of resilience; (4) community solidarity and collective coping within the settlement; and (5) future orientations shaped by both hope and uncertainty. The findings suggest that the experiences of internally displaced women are best understood through the intersection of ambiguous loss, place attachment, and everyday resilience. While participants have adapted to life in displacement, emotional connections to their homeland remain strong and continue to shape identity, belonging, and future planning. By centering women’s voices through Photovoice, the study moves beyond deficit-oriented narratives of trauma and vulnerability and highlights the active ways in which women create meaning, sustain social relationships, and cultivate resilience in contexts of prolonged uncertainty. The study contributes to scholarship on forced displacement, gender, visual methodologies, and social work practice in post-conflict settings.