Cartografía social como herramienta participativa para visibilizar las percepciones, problemáticas y potencialidades relacionadas con la infancia, el ambiente y la comunidad en la Urbanización Los Recuerdos

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Early Childhood Development Center (CDI) El Recuerdo in the city of Montería, with the purpose of understanding the educational and social reality of the surrounding community through social cartography as a pedagogical and participatory research tool. The central focus was childhood, articulated with the categories of environment and community, based on the active participation of parents, children, and teachers. The research emerged from the need to make visible the challenges affecting young children in their immediate context, such as the lack of safe play spaces, poor infrastructure conditions, and the weakening of community ties. The methodology followed a qualitative and participatory approach, using social cartography workshops to construct collective maps and symbolic conventions representing perceptions, risks, and opportunities within the territory. These graphic representations enabled the identification of significant places and situations that influence children's well-being. The main findings revealed limited articulation between child-rearing practices and environmental care, as well as a scarcity of public spaces suitable for early childhood. Families expressed strong interest in strengthening communication, shared responsibility, and community organization. The study concludes that social cartography not only facilitated the understanding of the territory from the perspective of its inhabitants but also fostered collective reflection and the emergence of proposals aimed at improving the environment and promoting children’s well-being.