Participation and citizenship: the voice of adolescent members of the Community Council for Children of the city of Iquique

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the participation experiences of adolescents who are members of the Communal Council for Children of the city of Iquique. Based on a qualitative methodological design, a case study was carried out with three adolescents between 16-18 years old. Semi-structured interviews were applied via online platform to later perform a content analysis. The results show that members of the Council value the progress in terms of participation in the Communal Council, especially since there are no other spaces that allow this right to be developed. It is also recognized that an adult-centric vision persists in territorial areas where participation remains on a symbolic level that still requires profound transformations. The scope of the findings and the persistent challenges in our society are discussed.