Resilience Through Our Eyes: A Know Your City Youth Story.
Self-taught photography, community storytelling, and inspiring change in Chinsapo
A passion born from purpose
Driven by a deep zeal for visual storytelling, Patricia Whayo began her journey as a self-taught photographer with a clear mission: to capture authentic stories from her community of Chinsapo, Malawi. Early this year, guided by her passion for photography and filmmaking, she joined the Know Your City TV (KYCTV) Malawian chapter to amplify local voices and shed light on everyday urban realities.
Her commitment to grassroots media brought her to the Resilience Through Our Eyes programme in Nairobi, Kenya. What started as photography training quickly transformed into a life-changing experience, reshaping how she observes, listens, and frames stories through her lens.
At the heart of this initiative is the Centre for Community Organisation and Development (CCODE), which plays a pivotal role in empowering local youth to take ownership of their narrative and share authentic stories of their communities.
Patricia engaged in guidance and discussion during the Nairobi training sessions.
Learning the art behind the camera
For a self-taught creative, the technical sessions provided invaluable structure. Guided by trainer Brian, Patricia mastered the exposure triangle, understanding how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together in manual mode. Mastering these tools gave her precise control over lighting and focus, elevating her visual craft to tell clearer, more impactful stories.
Beyond technical settings, Patricia refined her narrative technique through story development, editing, and caption writing. Every shot she takes now carries intentional depth, ensuring the heart of Chinsapo is reflected accurately and meaningfully.
Putting training into practice: trainees focusing her camera with precision and passion.
Ethics: respect comes first
Under Natalie’s guidance, Patricia embraced the core ethics of visual journalism. Learning about informed consent and respecting the dignity and privacy of subjects reinforced her belief that community photography must always prioritize human rights and respect over mere aesthetics.
For Patricia, documenting community resilience in places like Chinsapo is about partnership and trust. Ethical storytelling ensures that residents actively co-create their own narrative, showcasing both their challenges and their immense strength.
Patricia participating in an ethics session focused on informed consent and community respect.
Taking the lessons into the community
During field visits to Kiamaiko in Nairobi, Patricia applied her new skills in real time. Navigating shared pathways and observing daily life, she saw striking parallels to urban challenges back home in Chinsapo such as water access, sanitation, and waste management.
The experience deepened her resolve to use her camera as a tool for advocacy, ensuring that community issues in Malawi are documented with dignity, sensitivity, and hope.
Learning together and sharing stories
Collaborating with fellow youth media activists from Malawi, Benin, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and South Africa enriched Patricia’s perspective. Working alongside peers showed her how diverse viewpoints unite under a shared goal: giving grassroot communities a stronger, unified voice.
What I am taking with me
Patricia returns to Malawi equipped with technical mastery, creative confidence, and a renewed conviction. She views photography not just as art, but as a catalyst to spark conversations, raise awareness, and drive meaningful local solutions in Chinsapo.
Grateful for the guidance of Brian, Natalie, and her Know Your City TV team, Patricia continues to hone her skills with enthusiasm and purpose. Her story stands as an inspiring reminder of what young self-taught creators can achieve when passion meets community action.
Every photograph tells a story, and through Patricia’s lens, Chinsapo will be seen, heard, and understood with honesty and pride.
