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Community action and research as citizenship construction
1Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. mmonteroster@gmail.com
American Journal of Community Psychology
|January 9, 2009
Summary
Community psychological action can foster social change and well-being. An art-based intervention in Venezuela empowered children to develop citizenship awareness, civic values, and participation skills.
Area of Science:
- Community Psychology
- Social Change Research
- Citizenship Education
Background:
- Social change, well-being, and liberation are interconnected in community research and action.
- Community research and action possess inherent political dimensions.
- Epistemological commonalities exist between community and political spheres.
Purpose of the Study:
- To argue that community research and action can be political.
- To define key concepts and discuss shared epistemological premises.
- To illustrate how community psychological action can effect change through a specific intervention.
Main Methods:
- An intervention was conducted with children from impoverished sectors of Caracas, Venezuela.
- The intervention aimed to construct citizenship by fostering awareness of values, civic rights, and duties.
- Art classes were utilized as a participatory method for discussing and painting topics related to citizenship and ethics.
Main Results:
- Children developed consciousness regarding citizenship values and ethics.
- Participants related these concepts to their own lives.
- The experience highlighted the advantages of participation, peaceful negotiation, and solidarity.
Conclusions:
- Community psychological action, particularly through participatory art, can effectively promote citizenship development.
- Empowering children in poverty sectors with civic awareness can contribute to social change.
- The study underscores the political potential of community-based interventions.
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