Glances, Bodies, and Postures. Education and research experiences among Kenya, Senegal and Italy

Abstract

The paper reinterprets the body as an essential dimension of the pedagogical design and educational relationship, with a focus on two contexts of international cooperation. In action and cooperative research in heterogeneous environments, the body of the researchers becomes an essential element of interaction. A critical dialogue on investigations carried out in Kenya and Senegal allows to deepen a methodological and pedagogical reflection in a comparative key. The proposal focuses on the interaction between communities and researchers and on the deconstruction of colonial thought, oppressions and stereotypes from an intercultural and intersectional perspective. Body, corporeality and reciprocal representations are essential for the subjects of action research. Starting from the educational and research positioning, a space for communication is promoted in order to share ideas and meanings emerged in the community and facilitate collective participatory processes in marginal contexts.