In Bambamarca, with Rita and the BRIE children

Days before, as usual, Rita had already planned the visits to the Rural Libraries in Educational Institutions -BRIE-. This time, together with Javier Huamán, coordinator of the rural libraries, we went to the province of Hualgayoc to the BRIE of Chala with the teacher Rafaela, from Bambamarca, and with our dear librarian Manuela. 

'The Chullpas of the Chachapoyas' was the book that Rita used to teach and remind us of the cultural richness of Peru. She prepared some photographs and a small mummy statuette or sarcophagus to illustrate to the children what the chulpas or houses of the ancestors were all about. The story had important references to our Andean land: the batanes, the ichu, the hills, the lagoons, the condor, the reverence and memory of our grandparents. 

Then Rita showed the children one of the most important symbols of the Network of Rural Libraries of Cajamarca, the Ñaupa, the oldest of the grandparents, by means of several pieces of ceramic with stripes and colours. She told them that Alfredo Mires, her husband, had met this particular figure many times in ceramics and cave paintings, from which he created the icon for the rural libraries, thus giving birth to this companion who does and says many things. With this explanation, Rita invited the children to colour the different ñaupitas, which Alfredo with his genius had created. They happily filled them with colour and design. Then together we helped to arrange the mural of the Ñaupas de la Red, beautiful works of art of the children. 

With Rita we learned various strategies to encourage reading in our rural communities, we reviewed our symbols, learned some history, had fun, coloured and savoured the joy of being together and growing. 

Thanks to Javier Huamán, and to the teachers Rafaela and Manuela! 

Thanks to Rita fo being and giving so much to us!

Nathalia Quintero C.

Colombian volunteer