Pedagogía para la memoria: construcción de experiencias a través de centros de interés en fotografía

Abstract

In a rural community shaped by the aftermath or armed conflict and the La Rochela Massacre of 1989, this study implemented the photography-based Center of Interest Enfoque Creativo as a pedagogical strategy to foster historical memory among students at Colegio Agroindustrial de Puerto Nuevo in Simacota, Santander. Drawing on a socio-critical perspective and the methodological practices developed alongside the participants and understood photography as a tool for expression, reflection, and territorial resignification. The project involved nineteen middle-and-high-school students who participated in activities focused on observation, photographic production, collaborative learning, and the creation of visual narratives connected to their rural context. Data was collected through workshops, focus groups, interviews, student journals, and audiovisual materials. The findings revealed contributions to critical thinking, meaningful learning, student participation, socio-emotional development, and engagement with historical memory. In addition, photography moved beyond its technical function and became a means of emotional expression and reflection on the consequences of violence. The study concludes that the centers of interest constitute a meaningful pedagogical strategy for rural communities affected by armed, as they promote contextualized, interdisciplinary, and socially responsive learning experiences. Furthermore, the project highlighted the role of schools as spaces for memory work, territorial resignification, and peacebuilding.