Community transformations through emancipatory educational practices: Vicente Guerrero Group, Tlaxcala, Mexico

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Giovana Lizet Apan Araujo
Ignacio Ocampo-Fletes
Benito Ramírez Valverde
María Esther Méndez Cadena
José Pedro Juárez Sánchez

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to understand how perceptions of community transformations are shaped within contexts of emancipatory education and agroecology. It seeks to prove analytical tools for interpreting educational processes and assessing their potential to generate alternatives for rural development.


Methodological Design: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2026 in Tlaxcala, Mexico, applying a structured survey to 99 individuals (52 participants of the Grupo Vicente Guerrero [GVG] and 47 non-participants). This design allowed for comparisons of perceptions between groups and across sexes. Descriptive statistics were used, and non-parametric tests were employed based on variable type.


Results: Emancipatory educational practices of the GVG are associated with greater recognition of community transformations among participants, particularly in the social, environmental, and health/nutrition dimensions. In contrast, both groups showed lower levels of recognition for the economic and political dimensions. These between-group differences were statistically significant across all dimensions, indicating distinct perceptual configurations.


Research limitations: The study has limitations inherent to its cross-sectional design, including the absence of a pilot study, the use of non-probability sampling, and reliance of a perception-based instrument. These factors limit the representativeness of the findings and preclude establishing causal relationships among the variables analyzed.


Key findings: The educational practices of the GVG are associated with the recognition of community transformations, particularly in the social, environmental, and health dimensions, though these dimensions were also perceived to some extent by non-participants. Emancipatory education effectively integrates local knowledge with collective action, underscoring its potential to advance agroecological rural development.

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Author Biographies

Giovana Lizet Apan Araujo, Colegio de Postgraduados

She holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Agroecosystem Management from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. She is currently a doctoral student in Strategies for Regional Agricultural Development at the Colegio de Postgraduados. Her main research interests are popular education and agroecosystem management. 

Ignacio Ocampo-Fletes, Colegio de Postgraduados

He holds a PhD in agroecology, sociology, and sustainable rural development from the University of Córdoba, Spain. He is currently a Senior Research Professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Puebla Campus. His research interests include: assessing the sustainability of agroecosystems and social water management. His research addresses topics such as agroecosystem sustainability, agroecology, the multifunctionality of family farming, peasant knowledge, the social organization of water, and water harvesting. 

Benito Ramírez Valverde, Colegio de Postgraduados

Ph.D. in Latin American Studies, Tulane University, United States. He is currently a Senior Research Professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados. His research interests include rural development and rural poverty. He is a professor in the Master's and Doctoral programs in Strategies for Regional Agricultural Development and in the Master of Science in Sustainable Development of Indigenous Regions. He is a member of the National System of Researchers, Level 2. 

María Esther Méndez Cadena, Colegio de Postgraduados

She holds a PhD in Educational Research, Evaluation, and Intervention from the Complutense University of Madrid. She is a Senior Research Professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Puebla Campus. Her research interests include education and social development, environmental education, and improvement of educational processes. Her research addresses topics such as: The normalization of violence among high school students and its socio-environmental impact, environmental education for a dignified life, technology-mediated teaching: Realities and challenges, and artisanal spirulina (Arthrospira maxima): a sustainable alternative for improving family nutrition, among others. National System of Researchers (SNII) level 1. 

José Pedro Juárez Sánchez, Colegio de Postgraduados

Senior Research Professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Puebla Campus. He holds a PhD in Geography. His research focuses on rural territorial development, specifically rural tourism, the environment, rural housing, and primarily food.

How to Cite

Apan Araujo, G. L., Ocampo-Fletes, I., Ramírez Valverde, B., Méndez Cadena, M. E., & Juárez Sánchez, J. P. . (2026). Community transformations through emancipatory educational practices: Vicente Guerrero Group, Tlaxcala, Mexico. Entreciencias: Diálogos En La Sociedad Del Conocimiento, 14(28), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.22201/enesl.20078064e.2026.28.93018

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