Foto/relato: intervención social con niños en situación de vulnerabilidad

Abstract

This research addresses the situation of children in a state of social, economic and emotional vulnerability in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Bogotá, with special emphasis on those residing in the “La Bendición” building, a building marked by problems such as overcrowding, domestic violence and lack of access to basic services. Through photography as a tool for social intervention, the study seeks to explore and make visible the perceptions, emotions and experiences of these children, allowing them to narrate their reality and build their own visual narrative. The work is organized into six conceptual categories based on Participatory Action Research (PAR), actively integrating children in the creation of an album of their photographs and presented in this work as a photo-story. Among the most notable findings, it was identified how children use photography as a tool to reinterpret their environment, expressing their desires and interests, exploring new forms of interaction with the space they inhabit. This process challenges the perspectives and meanings imposed by adult-centrism, revealing an autonomous and authentic construction of their reality. Furthermore, the captured images reflect a strong sense of resilience and agency, showing their ability to redefine urban space as a place of cultural and social construction. In conclusion, the research demonstrates that photography is not only a tool of expression, but also a means to transform children's perception of invisibility and generate new narratives that enrich the understanding of their realities.