Living Lab
Empowering Colombian rural communities to (re) discover their heritage
SOCIAL INNOVATION
The Project
LivingLab is a social innovation initiative aimed at empowering rural communities in the Cultural Coffee Landscape of Colombia to (re)discover innovative means of narrating collective memory and preserving their heritage.
The LivingLab seeks to use technology as a driver to amplify the social promotion of these communities, increase visibility, and foster appreciation for their unique cultural heritage.
LivingLab was initiated by the ViveLab Manizales and articulated with research projects led by the University of Caldas, which explored sustainability and cultural heritage in the Cultural Coffee Landscape of Colombia.
ORGANISATIONS
University of Caldas
ViveLab Manizales
Colombian Ministry of ICT
Municipality of Neira
Municipality of Salamina
Municipality of Aguadas
MY ROLE
Lab coordinator
RESPONSIBILITIES
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Co-creating the concept of the LivingLabs
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Facilitating 5 workshops with communities
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Creating a content strategy
Approach
LivingLab utilizes a participatory approach, which consists of a series of community workshops and, development of a collaborative digital repository and social media strategy.
The LivingLab was implemented initially in the municipalities of Neira, Salamina, Aguadas and Viterbo, which are part of the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
Community Workshops
The workshops are designed to provide comprehensive training in heritage preservation, video creation, and storytelling.
These workshops serve as a catalyst for participants to explore their towns, landscapes, conduct interviews, observe social dynamics, and capture captivating stories using various mediums such as videos, pictures, and narratives.
The community workshops are developed around four topics that target different audience segments based on their roles within the community.
Landscape & Sustainability
Children
Cultural Heritage
Youngsters
Identity
Adults entrepreneurs
Collective Memory
Elderly people
LANDSCAPE
&SUSTAINABILITY
This workshop targets children, encouraging an appreciation for the natural environment and its connection to cultural heritage. Participants learn about the importance of preserving the landscape and sustainability practices.
IDENTITY
This workshop is designed for adult entrepreneurs and aims to explore the connection between personal and community identity. Participants explore their own stories and learn how their individual experiences contribute to the collective identity of their community.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Youngsters are the target audience for this workshop, which focuses on exploring and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the community.
COLECTIVE MEMORY
Elderly people are the target audience for this workshop, which focuses on preserving and sharing personal memories and stories. Participants have the opportunity to pass down their knowledge and experiences to younger generations, ensuring the continuity of cultural heritage.
Digital Repository
To enhance the social promotion of the villages, LivingLab establishes a digital repository where the content generated during the workshops is shared.
This collaborative website serves as a platform for participants to showcase their videos, pictures, and narratives, providing wider dissemination and increasing visibility for the communities.
Additionally, the content is shared across various social media platforms, further amplifying the reach and impact of the project.
Key
Outcomes
Empowerment
The LivingLab empowers inhanitants to take an active role in preserving, and sharing their cultural heritage. Participants gain new skills, develop a sense of pride in their heritage, and feel empowered to contribute to the preservation of their community's identity.
Visibility
The establishment of the collaborative digital repository and social media increases the visibility of the communities and their cultural heritage. The content shared on these platforms attracts attention from a wider audience, including tourists, researchers, and society.
Appreciation and Recognition
Through the engaging and authentic content generated by the local communities, LivingLab fosters appreciation and recognition of the unique cultural heritage present in the rural coffee area of Colombia.
Heritage Preservation
By integrating digital technologies and providing training, LivingLab contributes to the sustainability of heritage preservation efforts. The digital repository serves as an ongoing platform for communities to continue sharing their stories and inspiring future generations to carry forward the legacy of their heritage.
TEAM
Felipe César Londonio - Program Director
Adriana Gómez: Researcher and Heritage Expert
Carolina Salgero - Researcher and Facilitator
Carlos Adolfo Escobar - Facilitator and Researcher
Camila Hurtado - Lab Coordinator and Facilitator
Photo credits: Camila Hurtado
