The Social Integration and Digital Inclusion through Art and Communication in Community

Abstract

The objective of this research project is focused in how to generate learning, social and digital inclusion through Art and Communication.Starting from a fundamental question: how to promote social and digital inclusion within disempowered communities lacking social and technological resources?We observe that is urgent to modify the structure of formal and non-formal educational environments, using the art and communication in order to create different ways of interaction, learning, active participation and the skills that are needed for the 21st Century.Taking a Participatory Action Research methodological approach, the empirical field of the qualitative study is based in different neighborhoods in Portugal, Mexico and Cabo Verde with young people; where was used as data collection and analysis resources the focal group interviews, the products make by the group, field notes and reports.The activities consisted in the creation of videos, community interviews, stories, cartographies, street games, newspapers, digital animations, collective magazines and games with QR codes, among others.This study aims to define principles and guidelines for community work to develop media and information literacy with art, communication, games and collective experiences like alternative strategies to generate knowledge and integration.Create dialogue among young people and with the community is essential to engage them.Build in this way a network of collective learning, is a key to generate current and future social change as well develops a lifelong learning.