Diseño participativo de herramientas pedagógicas para la apropiación social de archivos de derechos humanos: narrativas colaborativas

Protecting human rights archives is essential, but it does not, in itself, ensure that communities recognize them as part of their collective memories, understand their value, or make meaningful use of them. From this perspective, this study aimed to design and substantiate pedagogical tools based on collaborative narratives to foster social innovation in the use and social appropriation of these archives. A qualitative design-based research approach was adopted, guided by the principles of participatory action research and structured around the phases of the Double Diamond model. The research involved a review of 30 academic publications and Colombian public policy on human rights archives, the systematization of two pedagogical experiences implemented at book fairs between 2024 and 2025, and interviews with 50 participants. The experiences consisted of a collaborative writing workshop using archival documents and the construction of a photographic negative scanner using low-cost materials, including cardboard and a mobile phone. The findings highlighted the potential of these experiences to bring archives closer to audiences without archival training, encourage conversations about family and community memories, and foster new ways of engaging with documents. The negative scanner was the most memorable activity, while collaborative writing was perceived as both the most meaningful and the most challenging exercise. The study also identified challenges related to limited time, insufficient feedback on the outcomes of the activities, and the lack of guides to support continuity and replication. As its main contribution, the research proposes a three-layer pedagogical model structured around a six-step cycle, seven low-cost prototypes, and twelve evaluation indicators. Taken together, these contributions advance an approach to social innovation based on the integration of knowledge, practices, and stakeholders, and promote an understanding of human rights archives not merely as documents to be protected and preserved, but as living resources for dialogue, the collective construction of memory, and the recognition of community experiences in the context of armed conflict.