The dream of Ñaupa

Only the loaded coffee

will have the right

to be a little bitter.

Alfredo Mires Ortiz

"The daydream of the Ñaupa".

Community wisdom III

On the subject of not arguing, we are convinced that, even if the television is bigger than the library, there is still a lot to be done. And if we don't want to argue, we should at least try to convince. For example, children are not responsible if their parents prefer a television set to a good book, but the school can, if it tries, convince them to read, to have fun with a fantastic story, to enjoy a nice poem, to understand history and to get to know the culture of different countries. The school has the possibility and the opportunity.

From the Rural Libraries Network we also make our best efforts so that children, young people and adults in the communities find in our books what complements what they are learning with their families. Thus, whether they have a large or small television set, they will always be able to discuss, discern and define their critical stance, when necessary.

With the children of Sócota

After almost five years, in August of this year we met again with the families of the Community Programme for the accompaniment of children with projectable capacities in Sócota, Cutervo.

In this area there are four peasant coordinators who do excellent work: Ángela Burga Muñoz, Nadia Barboza Fernández, Abel Vásquez Saucedo and Jorge Guevara Ramírez.

During these days of visit we met children and families new to the Community Programme. We were able to talk about our way of working, the distribution of responsibilities, the values of reciprocity and protection that mark the work of the programme, the community as a point of departure and arrival, the importance and role of volunteers in Libraries, and our close relationship with Mother Earth.

We visited some children in their homes, others we met in different meetings. They showed us their home gardens and the small animals they raise, we managed to deliver therapy materials and natural medicine to those who need it, we taught new techniques and exercises and, at the end, we had a nice encounter with children and parents in the countryside of Culla.

We said goodbye in better spirits, with lots of inspiration to continue working together and with happy hearts and souls.

Thanks to all the lovely people who made these days an unforgettable experience.

Reading brings us closer together

Food, music, walks, family and friends always gladden the heart; these beautiful events make everything make sense and the paths continue to be forged.

Today, this joy comes to us from the foothills of the apu (sacred mountain) Qayaqpuma, through our friends of the Apu Cultural Association and the little house "Caminos del Corazón", who joined the journey of the Network of Rural Libraries with the inauguration of the Rural Library "Alfredo Mires Ortiz" in the community of Shaullo Chico, Baños del Inca, Cajamarca.

They, in gratitude to the teachings of our dear Alfredo, decided to give their breath to this library; now our books have a new little place as true and warm as the hearth of our elders; from here, the community begins to have a new voice.

The inauguration became a celebration: there was no lack of music, no lack of children's dancing, and the joijona was plentiful. Thus we filled the spirits and hearts of all those present.

An African proverb says: "Many small people, in small places, doing small things, can change the world".

Alfredo Mires said: "By reading we are more together".

Trusting, we know that this new rural library has a long future ahead.

Mauricio Pérez 

Experience in Cajamarca

I share these brief lines about what turned out to be a wonderful experience for my little daughters Mikaela (10) and Rafaella (9).

Cajamarca is a recurring destination for our family and, since our meeting with the Mires Mocker family, there is a better reason to be there.

So last month, taking advantage of the holidays, we decided with my wife that the women of my household deserved to enjoy some time alone in Cajamarca, missing me a little.

Thank you, Aunt Rita! Thank you for having allowed them not only to delight in this vast collection of stories on paper, but to explore through their senses, everything that surrounded them at that moment. What was experienced and learned in "Libraries" (pronouncing that word with undeniable melancholy, because its corners and lines have, of course, the presence of dear uncle Alfredo) was undoubtedly something that will be remembered for a long time.

Here are their words.

José S.

Last month I had the opportunity to spend some time with my uncle Alfredo's family. We visited the main branch of the Rural Libraries Network of Cajamarca, now my favourite place.

It is full of books from floor to ceiling and I love that... I love it.

I had a lot of fun and enjoyed myself. I helped to organise some of the many, many books I found there, stamped them, labeled them, among so many other things that can be done in this magical place.

My sister and I were able to learn a little more about the history of Bibliotecas, the old stories, the legends and even read some of the books, of course. I was also able to meet some characters like the Ñaupa; I was amazed by the amount of history and stories they have.

It was an unforgettable experience.

Thank you, Aunt Rita, for that gift, for taking us there.

Thank you Rural Libraries of Cajamarca.

Mikaela S.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to get to know the most precious part of the Mires Mocker family, "the Library".

When they told me: you will help us to stamp, label and organise, I felt very excited at that moment, joyful too.

I loved the stories and the cultures, like the Ñaupas.

All this was thanks to my dear aunt Rita and Rosita; of course, to my mum too for taking us to Cajamarca.

Thank you.

Rafaella S.

From ticket seller to clown

Going out into the rural areas to visit our libraries or the children of the Community Programme is always a great joy. But it also requires a lot of preparation and work.

Preparing the travel backpack with all the necessities (sunscreen, insect repellent and first aid kit included), preparing the books for exchange and the therapy materials for the children, planning and carrying out the activities according to the schedule, preparing the contents of the workshops and meetings with various community entities, not forgetting the food for the road or the boots for the walks in the rain, driving, arriving, settling in and already thinking about the first activity - all this requires a lot of attention and logistics. Then there is the accounting, the (healthy!) refreshments during the events, the attention to people who have questions or queries and, of course: the evidence!

Alfredo always said that it is complicated when all the responsibility for an event falls on one person. "It's like playing the ticket seller and the clown in your own circus," he said. 

Sometimes we are lucky enough to have a friend who accompanies us and offers to take the photos. But my last trip to Sócota, Cutervo, was a luxury, because I was accompanied by Jorge Camacho, a volunteer of the Network and a professional photographer.

Thank you, Jorge, for your pleasant company, for helping me to drive and for the beautiful photos. And thank you, Alfredo, for sending us these volunteer angels to the Libraries.

Our books

We celebrate the arrival of a new book, because it is a new child in the family, a new hope, a new light on our journey, a great companion, one that will continue to reaffirm us in our culture, the one that will tell our grandchildren what we were, are and will continue to be; and you can't imagine how hard it is for these little ones to turn out nice and pretty.

We believe that our books should be impeccable and we like to be demanding; we are very careful with the processing of information, with the design and layout. However, despite the efforts of teamwork and applying what we have learned from the best teacher, our brother Alfredo Mires, we see that we still have a lot to learn - if only our "boss" were here - we say.

If you find any mistakes: please let us know! We assure you that we check the drafts over and over again, as a team. If there is an extra letter, if a margin has been moved, if there is a symmetry problem... nothing is intentional.

We welcome our books as the most precious thing in this family, the fruit of the contribution of many comrades from the countryside and the city, who bring the message of those who came before us to fight for an ever more just world.

Encouraging us to read

In our meetings and visits to the countryside, for several years now, we have heard expressions such as "reading is not what it used to be", "young people don't want to read any more, they are only on their mobile phones". That makes me sad, thoughtful, attentive.

I believe that television, WhatsApp and mobile phones are not in competition with books; they are simply other, different means of communication. And that, with rare exceptions, nobody reads a book on their mobile.

This gives us the option to look at the situation from another angle and to re-evaluate the book as a tool and a firm companion in our wanderings.

In August I was invited to a school in Sucse, Sócota, Cutervo. There we have a rural library in an educational institution, which opened at the beginning of the year. The person in charge is Abel Vásquez Saucedo, a skilled and committed coordinator with a long career as a reading promoter in the network.

We started the day with some games and dynamics to "break the ice", get to know the students and sound out their interest in books. And we were surprised by the spirit of these students: no one was left aside, everyone wanted to participate, everyone paid attention and collaborated with great enthusiasm.

Afterwards, Abel led a reading circle with students and teachers, using the book Letter from Chief Seattle. Once again we were pleased with the active participation and the dedication of everyone. It was a very enjoyable day, and I confirm: if we encourage reading with enthusiasm and preparation, we spread the passion for books. That is what we try to do in the Libraries.

Rita Mocker