Ben, determination and commitment

Mother,

I come to touch your forehead,

Crowned by the wind.

Excerpt from *Romance de la montaña*

Alfredo Mires Ortiz

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way” is a saying from our wise grandparents.

In that spirit of determination and embraced by the positive energy of the mountains, Ben Heery, nephew of our dear colleague Helen from the Sarah’s Rural Library Association, took part in the gruelling Lakeland 50 mountain race/ultramarathon. At just 18 years old, he ventured into the heart of the Los Lagos region and covered 80 km in a mere 10 hours, with the noble aim of raising funds for our libraries.

His act of volunteering, his courage and his commitment inspire us to keep moving forward, to be present in the communities where books, the written word and libraries are a source of hope.

Today, the Rural Libraries family is not only filled with pride, but also reaffirms its commitment to keep reading, strengthening our Andean culture and caring for Mother Earth, who always shelters us.

Our thanks to you, Ben, for everything you teach us.

In Masintranca, Chota

From 16th to 19th March, we had the great pleasure of welcoming our dear friends from England: Helen, Ben and Bella.

Together with them, and in the presence of our general coordinator, Javier Huamán Lara, we visited three areas where our rural libraries operate. In each place, we enjoyed pleasant encounters with readers, librarians and coordinators from various villages. These visits enabled us to strengthen enthusiasm for reading, both individually and collectively, by promoting the lending of books so that each community can continue to enjoy and make the most of our publications.

At our coordinator Sergio’s home, we also experienced a very special moment. We shared a reading session with local residents, which invited us to reflect on our social reality and the times we are living through. It was a space for dialogue and connection for which we all felt deeply grateful.

The following day we visited the “Cristo Rey” school in Masintranca, where a BRIE (Rural Library in an Educational Institution) has been operating for many years. There, we met with the entire teaching staff to discuss the importance of continuing to promote reading amongst the pupils. We were delighted to see the teachers’ commitment and enthusiasm for continuing to build on this work.

Over the course of these days, we shared experiences, lessons learnt and moments of friendship.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Helen, Ben and Bella for accompanying us so warmly. Their presence, friendliness and enthusiasm have been a great source of encouragement for us to continue promoting reading in our communities.

Sergio Díaz Estela

Internal Coordinator

Cajamarca Rural Libraries Network

Reading Trip to Montegrande

The Year 2 ‘Solidaridad’ pupils enjoyed an experience they are unlikely to forget. As part of our reading project, they took part in a guided tour of the Huaca Montegrande Archaeological Site, where, led by Dr Quirino Olivera, they learnt about the legacy of the Marañón culture and the ancient origins of cocoa – a heritage that forms part of our identity.

The day featured a meaningful offering to the earth, a moment of gratitude and connection with nature; a reading session led by Social Sciences student teachers; and the official opening of the BRIE (Rural Library of School 16049 “Inmaculada Concepción”), a ceremony presided over by Ms Sara Moreno, representative of the Cajamarca Rural Libraries Network and a teacher at the EESPP “Víctor Andrés Belaúnde”.

We were also joined by the specialist from the Jaén UGEL, Ms Marleny Olivera, as well as primary and secondary school teachers from the target classes who have been driving this project forward.

Beyond the activities carried out, this experience reminded us of a profound lesson: reading is also an act of reciprocity. Just as our ancestors offered cocoa, maize and bean seeds to give thanks to the earth and ask for abundance, today our pupils symbolically offered their first reading, understanding that reading not only nourishes knowledge, but also the spirit, identity and a sense of belonging.

The Huaca Montegrande taught us that human beings grow when they recognise their connection to nature, culture, memory and community. It is this very connection that we seek to strengthen through our BRIE: a library that not only lends books, but also sows curiosity, dialogue, imagination and a love of reading.

Let us continue to build, together, a school where reading is an experience that transforms lives.

Congratulations to everyone who makes this wonderful project possible!

Marcos Sánchez Medina

Deputy Headteacher, IE 16049 “Inmaculada Concepción”

Montegrande, Jaén

 The dawn

will sing once more.

Alfredo Mires

in: La ensoñación del Ñaupa.

24th June

On 24th June we received photos and texts from many celebrations at our BRIEs. 24th June is St John’s Day and Farmers’ Day. It’s also – still – a bit like the winter solstice in the Andes.

At the libraries, we don’t usually mark these dates in any special way, because for us every day is Farmers’ Day. Every day we must remember and honour those wonderful people who, through the hard work of their hands, fill our tables and our stomachs. 

But still: I think it’s worth remembering one date: 24 June 1969, when President Juan Velasco Alvarado, as part of the agrarian reform, set out to highlight the dignity and rights of those who work the land.

And so, we join in these celebrations. With all our hearts.

Happy Farmers’ Day, friends and fellow farmers!

Here we share with you some texts and images from the celebrations at our BRIEs:

At the “Víctor Andrés Belaunde” BRIE in Jaén, we held an All’pata paguikun ceremony on Farmers’ Day to give thanks to the land for its generosity, to our mountains, and to our departed loved ones.

An offering from our librarian, Tovías Silva Díaz, at the ‘Antenor Orrego’ Primary School in Jaén, with his pupils.

Kiara, a student and librarian at the BRIE of the University of Education in Jaén, performing the ‘all’pata paguikun’ with her pupils at the Alfonso Arana Vidal Primary School in Las Naranjas, Jaén.

Maricarmen, who is also a student and librarian at the BRIE library at the University of Education in Jaén, is making an offering to the earth in the park in the Bellavista district, together with her students.

At IE Los Ángeles, in José Sabogal, San Marcos, we are very proud to celebrate Farmers’ Day with a reading circle where we learn from the resources in our Farmers’ Library.

The Book Among the Children of Atahualpa

In April 2021, the National Library of Peru published *The Book Among the Children of Atahualpa*, a collection of six lectures on the Rural Libraries Network delivered by Alfredo Mires between 2008 and 2018 in various locations across Colombia.

Taken together, these lectures offer a broad overview of the Network’s vision, activities, challenges and achievements, highlighting our work in promoting reading as a tool for community identity, development and liberation.

The book also contains Alfredo’s profound reflections on the urgent need for appropriate, high-quality library services, as well as revealing examples of the wisdom that characterised his thinking and his work.

The book *Entre los hijos de Atahualpa* forms part of the *Reading, Libraries and Community* collection, an initiative that seeks to promote the development of critical citizenship through libraries, books and reading. Before he left, Alfredo strongly urged us to study this book. “It’s all there,” he used to say.

The book is also available in PDF format. If you would like to join the community reading initiative and remember Alfredo, you can access it via the following link:

THE BOOK *BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF ATAHUALPA*: The Experience of the Cajamarca Rural Library Network – Alfredo Mires Ortiz

Qayaqpuma

Come,

ascend into silence,

in deep

silence.

Excerpt from the poem ‘Listening’ by Alfredo Mires Ortiz – Romance of the Mountain

Encouraged by Helen Heery, a friend of the Rural Libraries Network, we climbed Qayaqpuma to give thanks for its protection and to remember the teachings of our comrade Alfredo.

This sacred mountain awakens a world of emotions. There we find not only the memories of our grandparents, but also the marvellous gifts of Mother Nature.

A hummingbird leads the way and we begin our walk amidst achupallas, cacti, chamanas and lloctaras; in short, an immense variety of plants that reveal their beauty to us up there at the very summit. The rocks, as well as being beautiful, convey a sense of protection and strength. The owls keep watch over their home; the ants, spiders and bees bear witness to their tireless labour; and from above, from that marvellous blue sky adorned with white clouds, the chinalindas watch over us.

In Qayaqpuma, you’ll find the peace your heart needs. The mountain welcomes you with the coolness of its breeze; it offers you warmth or shade at just the right moment, makes you feel at home, fills you with its energy, encourages you and shows you the way forward.

Thank you, our brother Alfredo, for leaving us this legacy, which is so valuable to all the people of Cajamarca; and let us trust that those who visit it will do so with responsibility and respect.