Proyecto de investigación acción formación para la paz y ciudadanía: cartade para la paz

Abstract

The research project Letters for Peace analyzes the pedagogical value of an epistolary exchange among primary school children from two educational institutions located in different territorial contexts: Instituto Técnico La Cumbre in Floridablanca, Santander, and Liceo Nuestra Señora de Torcoroma in Bogotá. The study aimed to understand how writing and reading letters, mediated by a real communicative purpose, foster recognition of others, expression of opinions, school coexistence, and the construction of a culture of peace from childhood. Based on a qualitative approach and a participatory action research perspective, the study used instruments such as focus groups, classroom observations, letter writing, shared reading, and a comparative analysis between the first and second letters. The findings show that the strategy helped students move from initially descriptive texts focused mainly on personal information toward writings with greater communicative intention, including questions, more empathetic greetings, expressions of likes, emotions, dreams, and opinions, as well as progressive signs of respect for the recipient’s voice. In this sense, the epistolary exchange became a meaningful pedagogical practice for connecting children’s writing, human rights, and peace education by turning the letter into a bridge for dialogue, recognition, and participation. The study concludes that writing for a real recipient strengthens written production while creating formative opportunities for children to understand that expressing opinions, listening, and respecting differences are essential actions for peaceful coexistence.