Contributions from the public university to the construction of peace: Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy training practices with a group of people in process of reinstatement in Cali, Colombia

Abstract

Within the framework of the signing of the Peace Agreement between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP), Universidad del Valle implemented a program that promotes the development of professional practices, which allowed the preparation of a proposal from teachers and students of Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, which was carried out within the framework of the agreement with the Agency for Reincorporation and Standardization. It was carried out in the city of Cali with the population in the process of reinstatement and their families during the first half of 2018 with the purpose of supporting the reading and writing processes in the participating population, thus favoring their social participation and the construction of citizenship. The proposal favored a joint construction approach among all involved. 10 adults and 6 children participated. Five meetings were held which allowed identifying the needs and interests of the participants in relation to reading and writing, and jointly build activities that promoted reading and writing through poetry, storytelling and theater. The proposal enabled an exercise of recognition and mutual resignification that allows the construction of citizenship and professionals as political subjects.