Facing adversity together by looking beyond ability: an approach to resilience among at-risk children and youth

ABSTRACT

Resilience has become a very popular concept in recent years. More and more social intervention models and practices are increasingly being based on this concept. However, far from being a closed and static notion, it is very dynamic and constantly evolving. This paper presents an analysis of how the concept of resilience and the studies about it have developed over time. The literature on resilience shows that the concept has shifted from an approach that identified it as a personal quality towards an approach that understands it as a set of actions activated from different spheres. The latest advances in studies on resilience raise the prospect of some elements that, going beyond the individual's ability, should be taken into account from a social practice perspective. This study will therefore highlight and analyse the potential of these elements in the co-creation of actions and synergies for resilience.

RESUMEN

La resiliencia es un concepto en pleno auge en los últimos años. Cada vez más modelos y prácticas de intervención social se basan en este concepto. Sin embargo, este concepto, lejos de ser un concepto cerrado y estático, se muestra muy dinámico y en constante evolución. En este trabajo se hace un análisis de la evolución de los estudios y del concepto de resiliencia. Las evidencias bibliográficas sobre resiliencia muestran una evolución del concepto desde un enfoque que la identifica como una cualidad personal, hacia un enfoque del concepto de resiliencia que la entienden como un conjunto de acciones activadas desde distintas esferas. Analizaremos los últimos avances en los estudios de resiliencia que dejan entrever elementos que, más allá de la capacidad del individuo, conviene tener en cuenta desde la práctica social. Así, este trabajo destacará y analizará el potencial de dichos elementos en la co-creación de acciones y sinergias para la resiliencia.

KEYWORDS:

• Resilience
• community development
• empowerment
• educational relationships
• at-risk children and youth

PALABRAS CLAVES:

• Resiliencia
• Desarrollo Comunitario
• Empoderamiento
• Relaciones Educativas
• Infancia y Juventud en Riesgo social

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Cristóbal Ruiz-Román, PhD in Pedagogy from the University of Málaga, is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Theory and History of Education and Education Research Methods and Diagnosis (University of Málaga-Spain). His research areas are socio-educational exclusion/inclusion of disadvantaged children and youth, resilient community processes and educational network action. He has written several papers in these areas. He is currently the director of the Excellence Research Project entitled ‘Networking and Socio-educational Care for the Promotion of Resilience among Children at Social Risk’ (SEJ1366) and a member of the Children's Board of the Asperones Neighbourhood in Malaga.

Jesús Juárez Pérez-Cea, PhD in Pedagogy from the University of Málaga, is Associate Lecturer at the Faculty of Education of the University of Málaga and Social Educator at Spanish charity Cáritas. He has published several pieces of research related to Street Education, Resilience and Community Action. He currently participates in the Excellence Research Project entitled ‘Networking and Socio-educational Care for the Promotion of Resilience among Children at Social Risk’ (SEJ1366) and is a member of the Children's Bureau of the Asperones Neighbourhood in Malaga.

Lorena Molina Cuesta is a doctoral student from the Faculty of Education at the University of Málaga and Street Educator at an organisation called ‘Inclusion, Citizenship and Education’. She is a participant in the Excellence Research Project entitled ‘Networking and Socio-educational Care for the Promotion of Resilience among Children at Social Risk’ (SEJ1366) and a member of the Children's Bureau of the Asperones Neighbourhood in Malaga.

ORCID

Cristóbal Ruiz-Román http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7749-4596

Jesús Juárez http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3167-3596

Lorena Molina http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8081-3359

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Consejería de Economía, Ciencia y Empleo de la Junta de Andalucía, España, under grant (SEJ1366).