Creating space for dialogue: Exploring what matters for children on St Helena Island through The World Café

The World Café (TWC) method is now established as a participatory tool used in community development and qualitative research. However, there limited critique of TWC social work research method, especially with children. This paper discusses for understanding what matters children on the British Overseas Territory St Helena Island. As worker, importance supporting children’s engagement voice well known participation, necessitating careful ethical consideration. Within this project facilitating authentic conversations remote island required examining assumptions alongside engaging colonial legacies to bring forward respectful participation. shares several fractures other approaches evolving from critical pedagogy, which appeared aligned values ethics. Facilitated shared learning allowed discuss issues that mattered them, although handing over dialogue commitment trust sharing control young people. events revealed complex positioning roles situating lived experiences, whereby developed their them through interactions growing global position. edged towards transformative conversations, acknowledging oppression marginalised peoples, requires reflection action people themselves elevate positions within own knowledge. supports potential further understand if creative methods can create more spaces dialogue, allowing emergence socially just.