Community work, love and the indigenous worldview of buen vivir in Peru

Abstract

The Latin American indigenous knowledge paradigm of buen vivir (‘living well’) encapsulates an equilibrium of rights of people and nature, with a ‘solidarity economy’ emphasising equities, equality and freedoms, social justice and ecological justice. In participatory research in Peru, community workers developed a love-based framework of practice that reflects features of buen vivir. Participants suggest love is values-based feeling and action aiming for a world of peace, happiness and prosperity by transforming social conditions for a system of equality through participatory and democratic processes. The findings enhance developmental social work and buen vivir literature with a localised, relationship-oriented practice approach.