Literacy in the literacy processes of illiterate youth and adults in the Pujilí canton, Cotopaxi

Abstract

This research analyzes the impact of literacy on the literacy process of young people and adults in the communities of the Matriz parish in the Pujilí canton (Cotopaxi, Ecuador). Illiteracy, a persistent social challenge in rural areas, limits civic participation and economic opportunities. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach of Action Research, employing semi-structured interviews, surveys, and participant observation with a population of 23 illiterate adults. The theoretical framework focused on sociocultural approaches and critical pedagogy, analyzing how contextual factors (socioeconomic conditions, mother tongue) determine the development of literacy. The results indicate that the implementation of contextualized and bilingual workshops, based on functional literacy, produced an observable improvement in the participants' skills, positively impacting their autonomy in daily tasks and strengthening their cultural identity. It is concluded that literacy is not only an instrumental skill, but also a vehicle for empowerment that reduces inequality when teaching strategies are relevant to the learner's sociocultural context.