La pedagogía de la esperanza como herramienta de justicia restaurativa: una propuesta de prevención del delito desde la escuela

Abstract

This article presents a critical reflection on an internship conducted at the Institute of Victimology at Santo Tomás University (Bucaramanga branch), which involved creating a pedagogical guide consisting of ten modules aimed at preventing crime within the school environment. The initiative highlights the inadequacy of traditional disciplinary and punitive models in addressing violence and criminality in schools. Drawing on the academic experience gained at the Institute of Victimology and the resulting pedagogical proposal, we argue that schools must move beyond the punitive paradigm and adopt a restorative approach that fosters harmonious coexistence and crime prevention. This pedagogical proposal is intended to complement existing codes of conduct, offering the educational community effective preventive tools for peaceful conflict resolution and the rebuilding of the social fabric. To support this argument, the analysis incorporates theoretical concepts from contemporary thinkers, as well as Colombian regulations and case law regarding the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents in schools, alongside the elements that guided the development of the modules and the definition of their educational objectives. The article concludes that crime prevention in schools cannot be limited to the coercive enforcement of rules; rather, it requires the deliberate development of civic capacities that enable democratic coexistence based on human dignity, shared responsibility, and the strengthening of restorative practices.