Occupational Therapy in the rural setting: an experience in La Macarena, Meta

Abstract

The signing of the peace agreement between the National Government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC -EP) opened a new opportunity to contribute to the transformation of life and health conditions of rural communities. This article presents the experience of a group of occupational therapists who, as part of a university extension project, set out to contribute to the strengthening of the community capacities for primary health care for communities and social organizations of the Macarena (Meta, Colombia.) Systematization as a methodological path, enabled the reconstruction of the lived experience, which was put in dialogue alongside the political commitment of the project. Emerging reflections around daily life and the role of community occupational therapy showed the challenges and learning opportunities about time, space and identities of occupational therapy in this setting. The results of the implementation strategies from Occupational Therapy reaffirm the ethical commitment of the profession to contribute to reducing social inequities.