‘She Knows How to Play With People Properly’: Using PhotoVoice to Conceptualise Capabilities for a ‘Good’ Life With Young Children in Mahikeng, Rural South Africa

The capabilities approach has informed policy globally, shifting focus away from traditional economic indicators and toward improving people's freedoms and opportunities to be and do what they value in life. However, there is limited research engaging children in conceptualising and measuring capabilities that are important to them for a ‘good’ life, especially in rural settings. We used participatory photography and group discussions to conceptualise capabilities with eighteen children aged 6–10 years in rural Mahikeng, South Africa. Children shaped group discussions through the photographs that they took and selected for discussion to explain what makes life ‘good’ or is important to them, while study design and analysis were led by the research team. This study identifies eight capabilities important for a good life. These are: (1) playing and enjoyment, (2) care, support and emotional bonds, (3) social relations, status and inclusion, (4) learning and development, (5) safety and freedom from violence, (6) basic needs and absence of illness, (7) choices, autonomy and control and (8) performing well. Our findings confirm previous research but also provide key insights into the importance of unstructured play and into local enablers and barriers to a good life, highlighting the impact of violence on important aspects of children's lives including play, social relations, learning and positive aspirations. This study also emphasises the value of using creative participatory approaches to engage children in generating insights on capabilities and contextual factors impacting on their lives.