Monday 14 August 2017

Signs in the Encylopedia


Two days we were gathered in the Encounter of the Encyclopedia Campesina, animated with the presence of almost all the provinces of Cajamarca and Huamachuco, celebrating the incorporation of new companions.

We continue to build our dictionary of cajamarcanisms: it is a beauty to see how the sayings and knowledge flow... And the debate of the meaning, the critic of the contexts and the construction of strategies that allow us to consolidate the wanderings that reaffirm our journey.

Our project continues to investigate the various issues that the collective has decided and, at the same time, we find ourselves finishing identifying the signs that nature has taught us from the beginning and that have been forming our culture.


There is so much to keep on knowing!




"Fields of the whole world, let us unite!"

Julia Steiner, a volunteer who sustains the version of our blog in French (http://redbibliotecasfrances.blogspot.com/), has just published an article in a newspaper of the central massif -located to the center-south of France. "Fields of the whole world, let's unite!", is its title and in it addresses "The Network of Rural Libraries of Cajamarca: culture to liberate."

"More than a simple network of libraries - there are more than 500 that have flourished in the homes of the communities – it is a popular education project, based on the cultural traditions of the Andean communities. A way to bring reading and books to the rural areas forgotten by governments, and most of all the freedom to think, the tools to defend themselves, to know their rights. To rescue the Andean culture and the peasant world, its knowledge, its stories, its language, that could disappear as the peasant world has disappeared in France.

Here, the libraries are in the homes of the villagers. And the villagers are librarians, volunteers, that come to renew their libraries in the headquarters of the Network, in Cajamarca, walking many kilometers.

The operation of the association is horizontal, there are general assemblies, which allows everyone to meet and decide together which books they are going to write.

Culture is a factor of social bonds, of economic development, a means of opening up in the world. And it is also, then, a peaceful tool of struggle and freedom. These projects - and there are a lot more that exist - demonstrate the importance or necessity of culture in the countryside, but also that rurality is still invented today and will be invented tomorrow.


In these times of political changes, which are more and more distant to the citizens of the centers of power and decision, rural dwellers of the whole world: let us unite to bring the voice of culture, because a future is built in the countryside".

Saturday 5 August 2017

Nathalia


Nathalia Quintero Castro, professor at the Inter-American School of Libraries of the University of Antioquia – Colombia, is again with us and this time for longer.

As we announced in January, Nathalia is undertaking her doctoral project from the experience of our network of rural libraries and, for this, has been integrated as a volunteer. She arrived a few days ago and we are celebrating her pleasant integration.

"To return to Cajamarca, is to be in family again," says Nathalia. “Being part of the Cajamarca Ayllu and Rural Libraries has been the most poignant and important gift I have ever had.

Infinite thanks to Alfredo, Rita, Mara and Rumi who have welcomed me so lovingly into their community and family routines. Also to the support team and other volunteers and friends with whom I have shared and will share.

My special gratitude to the community librarians for allowing me to be with them, to learn from their immense wisdom in this Andean path of fraternity, simplicity and solidarity. Thank you because here I have found the value of complementarity and real happiness."

With all the experience and will of Nathalia, we are sure to improve our steps, initiated more than 46 years ago. We recognise the company of this sister and volunteer of ours, not only for her hard work, but above all, for her presence among us.

Welcome back, Nathalia!