Fostering Change for Social Transformation: Challenges and Opportunities of the World Cafe on St Helena

The World Café method has proven invaluable as a participatory tool in community development and, of growing potential within qualitative research. This article discusses its application with groups of children on St Helena Island. The project aimed to unlock children’s transformative potential, by understanding their lived experiences within creative methods of group engagement. In doing so, it aimed to support children in developing their dialogue about what mattered to them, situating new understandings and possibilities. The World Café method brought to light the complexities of social roles within contested spaces, unifying children in a dialogue for desired change. The findings showed children’s motivation to be heard, and transformative dialogue emerged, continuing through discussions and graphic recordings from the Café events. Although children’s diversity required careful support for inclusion, underscoring the need for supporting reflection alongside change talk to pursue social justice and elevate their societal positions to influence change