Forced migration and social fabric reconstruction on Altos de la Florida neighbourhood

Abstract

This paper is based on an ethnographic and social work research carried out by the authors in Altos de la Florida, a neighbourhood of the municipality of Soacha, where Colombian forced-migrating people have arrived since 1998. Research was conducted with economic support by Antonio Nariño University and the Investigare University Association in 2003 – 2005, searching for an interdisciplinary perspective oriented to contributing to the social fabric reconstruction within migrating groups in that neighbourhood. This kind of reconstruction is conceived as a pedagogic and vital process where social support networks, complete care for people, strengthening of collective action, and management support play an important role. The social fabric concept refers to special relationships that determine particular ways of being, producing, interacting and projecting in the family, community, labour and city contexts.