In June 2023, during a trip to Medellin, Colombia, I met Leidy Velez. Those of us who love her call her Lez.
Lez is a librarian, reading mediator, archivist...and friend. I think the latter characterizes her best. I met Lez at a bebeteca, a library for babies, a space where she moves like a fish in water. Reading to children -young and old- is her passion.
This April, Lez came to Peru and did not hesitate for a moment to visit us in Cajamarca to visit Bibliotecas Rurales and offer her support in several reading mediation activities in different spaces of the Network.
She gave a workshop on reading, writing and orality for teachers at the central base of the Libraries Network and another for teachers at the UGEL of Cajabamba. The teachers were amazed.
We also visited the Malcas Garden, in the Condebamba valley, where the Network has a Rural Library in an Educational Institution. There we carried out four small units of reading promotion in the beautiful library of this garden and we returned with a renewed spirit because of the affection given to us by the children, their parents and teachers.
The few days I was able to share with Lez were full of deep conversations, learning and amazement. But it was also a time of much companionship, kindness and laughter.
Thank you, Lez, for your presence among us.
Come back soon.
Rita Mocker