Social appropiation of knowledge as a key driver in shaping life pathways for rural youth in Colombia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study explored the aspirations and challenges faced by rural Colombian youth in shaping their life projects upon completing secondary education. Conducted in the ZOMAC municipality (Zones Most Affected by Armed Conflict) of Rionegro, Santander, the research employed participatory action research and social appropriation of knowledge (SAK) methodologies. These approaches facilitated collaboration with 120 students to design pathways for their future. The findings highlight higher education as a prominent aspiration, yet significant barriers persist, including inadequate vocational guidance, economic constraints, and limited access to information on admission and financial aid opportunities. Family support and the municipality’s proximity to the regional capital emerge as critical enabling factors. The study underscores the need for structured interventions to enhance university access and retention, alongside fostering entrepreneurship skills and socio-emotional development. To design the six resulting pathways, data triangulation and thematic analysis were employed. It is concluded that the participatory approach of ASC connects these pathways with the expectations, needs and opportunities of the environment.
Language: Portuguese
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410092035