Wednesday 19 September 2018

Recognition II


As part of the celebrations for the 197th anniversary of institutional life, the National Library of Peru awarded the "Jorge Basadre Grohmann" Recognition to Alfredo Mires Ortiz, executive advisor of the Network of Rural Libraries of Cajamarca. The ceremony of recognition to illustrious diffusers and disseminators of reading took place on 28th August.


The Minister of Culture Patricia Balbuena was in charge of delivering the recognition. I attended on behalf of Alfredo to receive the reminder plaque and the chief resolution in which this distinction materialized.

Alfredo, our beloved Ñaupa, was recognized for his contribution to the promotion of libraries and for the promotion of reading that he has been doing for many years, when he decided to accompany the pioneering initiative of R.P. John Medcalf, and they went about involving more and more peasants from Cajamarca, gradually involving more and more communities.

With slogans such as: "Rise and read with me, my brother"; "Read reveals and rebels"; "Reading we are stronger", the Network of Rural Libraries became established in the Cajamarcan countryside and became a tool for the defense of cultural identity and fundamental rights.

The footprints that Alfredo continues to leave in his wake are traces that show a non-negotiable commitment with rural libraries, with the countryside, with Cajamarcan culture: they are traces that will continue to accompany the men and women of Cajamarca.

Congratulations, Alfredo, for this well-deserved recognition.

Gabriela Hidalgo

Volunteer of the Network

Reading and healing


At the beginning of September, the coordinators of the Community Program met in good spirits for the last training this year.

The variety of the themes addressed meant that we did not feel how difficult learning can be, especially if our main task is the farm. We passed through a morning of physical rehabilitation techniques for children with cerebral palsy, noting that the most important thing is and always will be our effort, our creativity and perseverance in this task.

We shared the film The King's Speech, which shows the difficulties of a monarch who suffers from stuttering and how he manages to overcome them. Together we also learned to improve the feeding of children with projected capacities, enriching the meals with quinoa, peanuts and vegetables from the orchards. Then we enjoyed the dishes prepared together for a rich meal in community.

The presentation of Alfredo Mires with the theme Reading for others taught us the value of reading as a healing element. We already imagine the children of the Program listening to stories hoisted in the arms of their parents. We are convinced that this combination of wisdom and tenderness can open doors and worlds in the context of rehabilitation.

With a reading circle of our own edition of The Right to Essence, we affirm our knowledge and our position regarding the theme of the Rights of the Child.

I wish learning could always be a party like this, for all the children and adults of the world.


Recognition


On August 28, 2018, the National Library of Peru on its 197th anniversary, recognized five people who have encouraged and are encouraging access to public libraries: our brother Alfredo Mires Ortiz, co-founder and Executive Advisor of the Network of Rural Libraries of Cajamarca, was among the honorees.

On that date, Alfredo already had commitments in the countryside, so he could not attend; our sister Gabriela Hidalgo, a volunteer of the Network in Lima, attended on his behalf.

We know of the important role that Alfredo has had and continues to have in these 47 years of journeys of the Network; not only feeding the desire to read books and nature, but at the same time for the tireless rescue of oral Cajamarcan traditions, the defense of the land and the deepening of the Andean culture; also for his essential research and teaching work on rock art, and the dignification and recognition of peasant wisdom.

Infinite thanks to Alfredo, who encourages us and re-encourages us to continue strengthening our principles.

He sent this message:

"With the greatest affection, I would like to extend my greeting for the 197 years of the National Library of Peru.

I welcome your recognition in memory of Father Juan Medcalf and all the peasants who have made and make this path possible.

I can not be physically present in this ceremony because of the commitments I had already agreed with the communities: it is in the countryside of our country where the deployment of volunteering is pressing.

Probably never as now are we urged so much to read with depth our own history: one critical reader more is one corrupted less. And a consistent reader, is an honorable community member.

My gratitude goes to you, in a hug of many arms."


De-beautifying


A few weeks ago we journeyed through the Cajamarcan province of San Miguel and visited some of the most beautiful villages in the region. This beauty lies not only in the warmth of its people and their ancestral customs, but also, because of its geographical location: in these places you can see how the sun says goodbye every day behind the sea.

There is even a privileged spot, very high, to observe the sunset. And there we were. But there was something that shocked us. On this same point from which this wonderful spectacle can be seen, a school has been built - though there is not a single window towards the landscape.

One would think that its location is propitious to generate experiences and learnings linked to the deep identity of the students, but all the doors and windows are oriented in the opposite direction.

This type of construction justifies and explains the words of the famous Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle: "When you try to rise above nature, you are predisposed to fall under her."

Rumi Mires


Monday 3 September 2018

In the communities of San Miguel



We walked through diverse communities in the province of San Miguel de Pallaques, accompanying the beginning of rural libraries in new sectors and seeing the possibilities of continuing to grow.

In the community of Chuad, Professor Carlos Paredes has already started his library: he himself is surprised by how enthusiastically the children have embraced the books!

This is a sowing of much dedication. And so we went, visiting and conversing in Agua Blanca, Miravalles and Niepos.

We took the opportunity to make our offering in the imposing Inganchaca and to greet that extraordinary site that is Paucal, where our grandfathers have carved the rocks with an amazing perfection: there are rock piles that do not seem to come from a quarry, as they do not have cracks or streaks of another grain or mineral ... and the angles are an extravagance of accuracy that open a myriad of questions.

One has to remember once again that old proverb that says "It's amazing how much we have to know to understand how little we know".




Ramiro is reborn


Just a few weeks ago, our brother Ramiro Yglesias, coordinator of the Hoyada Verde, in the province of Contumazá, left at dawn to visit an area where libraries need to be revived. In one of the closed curves of the road, the collective car in which he was travelling fell into the ravine. Two of the five passengers died. Ramiro was severely injured. For this Assembly of our Network, Ramiro called us by phone, we put him on speaker phone, and he read us a poem he had written:

The story of my destiny

The story that I have went through
has touched the heart
and not being with friends
is a desolation.

Life brings us pains
and also a lot of joy
I always have hope
that we'll be together someday.

Today I was born again
a new life starts
with the consolation of you all
I think it calms the wound.

To heal, not only
science is needed
the flowers also heal us
when one remembers

My libraries what will they do
when I no longer visit
I cannot keep the register
because I find myself unwell.

Finally I say goodbye
Please do not cry
my greetings to you all
in the central office.

We are here but also there with you, Ramiro!


Describing what is ours



Some questions about the most beautiful, what we always remember: the animals, the plants, the apus (sacred mountains), the water sources and the roads that we traveled, encouraged the elaboration of drawings of the different rural communities of Cajamarca.

The librarians of the Network showed their communities full of color, texture and smell, full of heart and soul, of life and hope.

Thank you very much, rural family of the Network!





Panel of librarians


Who better to analyze the current situation than our rural librarians, villagers -and peasants, also, from the poorest department in the country.

In the Assembly a panel was held, moderated by our coordinator in Jaén, Elizabeth Olano, in which the coordinators Lino Gálvez, from the El Ahijadero community, in the province of Hualgayoc; Jesús Fernández, from Huamachuco, Department of La Libertad; Javier Huamán Lara, from Alto Perú, Bambamarca, and Jorge Carrasco, from San Juan de Cutervo all took part.

They put into debate issues related to upcoming provincial elections, the scourges of corruption and pollution, and changes in production in the countryside due to climate change.