Virtualization of community processes: exploring strategies to strengthen the Solidarity Social Economy in San Antonio de Escazú

Abstract

Introduction: The stated reflections were built upon the systematization of the teaching experience in the courses: Workshop I and II: Local Organization and Construction of Citizenship of the School of Social Work of the University of Costa Rica, during the period 2021-2022.

Objective: This article aims to expose the main challenges of the virtualization of community processes and identify the main strategies for learning and strengthening the Social Solidarity Economy.

Method and technique: Since the course that frames the teaching experience focuses on Participatory Action Research, the reflections respond to the result of a process of systematization of experiences during the period described.

Results: The experience lived in the course during the years 2021 and 2022 evidenced great challenges in the approach to the daily life of the people linked to San Antonio de Escazú, however, the key to establishing trust and guaranteeing commitment in the community processes was the construction of distance communication strategies according to their living conditions.

Conclusions: The virtualization of community processes caused transformations in the approach and construction of links with the population. In this context, strengthening the Social Solidarity Economy represented a challenge for the organizations within the local space.