A culture-centered, participatory approach to defining “development” in rural Ecuador

  • Benjamin R. Bates*
  • , Daniela A. Grijalva
  • , Mario J. Grijalva
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals generally guide deployments of the term “development.” This understanding of development may contribute to the marginalization of local populations. We argue that communities can be better served if we listen to how they conceptualize and contextualize their definitions of development. To demonstrate a community definition of development, we offer an analysis of wall art created by and with children in a community and our service and research team. After understanding the themes of development articulated in this wall art, we articulate how a community-based definition of development can better serve local communities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-58
Number of pages14
JournalQualitative Research Reports in Communication
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Eastern Communication Association.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ohio University Center for Campus and Community Engagement.

Funders
Ohio University Center for Campus and Community Engagement

    Keywords

    • Art
    • Community-Based Research
    • Culture-Centered Approach
    • Development Communication
    • Ecuador

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