Learning processes and repercussions from handicrafts for social and popular education

The research incorporates the experiences of a group of artisans from Azuay and Cañar in Ecuador, aims to reflect on the professional practices of artisan collectives and their relationshipwith formal educational processes from a pedagogical approach focused on social and popular education. The study applies qualitative methodology with ethnographic focus. The results not only highlight that the spaces occupied by craftsmanship in the social imaginary are markedby obstacles and restrictions in professional practice, but also demonstrate that the knowledge they possess is conditioned by ethnic and sociocultural dimensions. Despite having experiencesand knowledge that are not far from the curriculum taught in the educational system, these are excluded and considered of lesser value. The research concludes that recognizing artisanal methods and procedures can be used as powerful formative elements to strengthen identity, democraticparticipation, dialogue of knowledge, social justice, and true intercultural education. Consequently, social and popular education can help promote the active participation of artisans and other collectives and contribute to the transformation and change of unequal structures from a socioeducationalperspective.