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Topic

Building Awareness and Reducing Stigma Toward Waste Pickers Through Virtual Reality (VR) Storytelling

Department of Geography

Date & location

• Wednesday, April 9, 2025
• 10:00 A.M.
• Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Jutta Gutberlet, Department of Geography, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
• Dr. Amirali Baniasadi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UVic (Non-unit Member)

External Examiner

• Dr. Alexandrine Boudreault-Fournier, Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Pan Agathoklis, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UVic

Abstract

This thesis explores the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) storytelling as an innovative tool to challenge dominant narratives, build critical awareness, reduce stigma, and foster empathy towards marginalized and stigmatized communities. Grounded on decolonial and critical frameworks, and drawing on Paulo Freire’s problem-posing education and conscientization, the study investigates how Virtual Reality (VR) storytelling can bridge the gap between abstract understanding and emotional engagement, supporting social inclusion and knowledge democracy.

This research chose to work with waste pickers’ community, who often experience marginalization, exclusion from policy decisions, and societal devaluation, despite their significant contributions to environmental sustainability. Through a participatory collaboration, with a waste pickers’ community in São Paulo, Brazil, the research integrates Virtual Reality (VR) Storytelling with Community-Based Research (CBR). Following official coordination and respective ethical procedures, visual data are collected, including 360-degree video footage capturing the work environment of the waste pickers and their personal narratives. This combination of qualitative data (interviews and visual documentation) forms the core of the primary data integrated into a VR simulation.

The VR simulation created for this project allows users to experience the actual workplace of waste pickers and listen to their stories narrated by the waste pickers themselves in an intimate setting as if they were truly present in that environment. The final simulation has been showcased in three different venues in Canada. Impressively, audience feedback, both verbal and written, highlights that the developed method has a strong potential to contribute to critical education of people, by challenging preconceived notions, enhancing public awareness and fostering empathy among the participants.

Finally, based on the integration of VR storytelling with community engagement, this thesis argues that immersive storytelling would help us go beyond traditional learning processes and serve as a powerful medium for mobilizing knowledge, building critical awareness, ultimately fostering a more equitable and inclusive society.