The Perspectives of Marginalised South African Youth on a Pre-university Outreach Programme: A Photovoice Study

As part of its mission to reach out to and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the University of Pretoria established a programme called the Pre-University Academy (PUA) on its Mamelodi Campus. The PUA hosts courses to complement learners’ school-based learning and further develop their skills so that they can prepare effectively for their tertiary studies. This paper describes how the learners of the PUA utilised the photovoice process, which involves photography, writing and group discussions, to identify the value the programme holds for them. The research used photovoice as a visual data collection method and analysed the qualitative data using reflective thematic analysis. This approach aims to identify patterns of meaning in a dataset and address questions related to peoples’ experiences, views and perceptions. The learners articulated that the PUA held great value for them, both in the present and for their future prospects. They recognised the importance of being part of an academic environment, as the community college setting grants them benefits in terms of both academic and social development.