We met!

The state of emergency in our country due to the Covid19 pandemic and the restrictions that we have assumed since then, coincided with the culmination of our General Assembly of the Network, in March 2020. Since then we have not met again.

That is why, a few weeks ago, we decided to make use of technology and, despite all the difficulties that our brothers and sisters have due to the lack of connectivity, cell phones that only serve them to make calls or lack of budget to maintain a permanent service, we managed to meet with several of them.

It was very nice to see them, even from a distance and to send us “virtual hugs”, which is not the same as a physical hug, since we are used to feeling the heat, strength and encouragement of others every time we meet.

We saw each other and talked, informed about the situation in the communities, remembering some pending tasks, among other things. But the most important thing was that we were able to hear from our brothers and sisters, from the communities, how they are managing to keep carrying the books and help others to keep reading.

Alfredo opened the Assembly with the offering to the land, the apus and the dead. The ceremony also had to be virtual, always calm because we know that the offering is held in the communities before each day.

Happy with the warm presence of dear friends such as Gabi Hidalgo, Sally Vernon, Nathalia Quintero and receiving the greetings of Helen Heery, from England.

It was not the party we are used to every time we meet in person, but it is something, as we usually say, and something very good for these times of mandatory distance.

We are glad to have seen each other, we are encouraged to have talked, we are given hope to see that the night comes and, even from the darkness of the places where there is a “better signal”, but there is no electricity, we continue to listen to each other.

Thank you, comrades, for this meeting.

First virtual Assembly of the Network

In the month of July we had the opportunity to meet for our first virtual assembly: may these times of pandemic and social distancing not stop us wanting to meet to find out how we are doing, to renew our commitment and the joy of living in the communities of Cajamarca.

Thank you for keeping up our spirits, for the precautions and care to keep us in good health, and for looking for alternatives to continue reading in families, communities, and with students.

Lovely meeting, although we miss the hug and the joint work!

Mauricio visits us

A little while ago we had a pleasant visit from our brother Mauricio Pérez, who in a silent and committed way has been accompanying this walk of the Network, looking for spaces between his tasks to integrate into this great family and motivating even young volunteers to help with some tasks at the home of the network.

Mauricio has also grown fond of books, enthusiastically spreading them in different spaces: this is an extraordinary support in self-sustaining efforts.

Our gratitude to Mauricio and a big hug!

How to acquire our books?

People write to us asking how to buy our books.

There is a lot of interest in the stories of the Peasant Library, in "The beings of over here", and so on.

The best way is to write to us at: bbrrcajamarca@gmail.com

Then we can coordinate the details.

If the interested person is in Cajamarca, please call us at 076 364397.

We also have a series in digital version, whose remission can be coordinated.

Thank you very much and greetings!

Peruvian network of reading mediators

On 26th June, the Peruvian Network of Reading Mediators met with our brother Alfredo to discuss two important texts written by him: "The dignity of the people is also written by reading" and "The earth tells." Here are some excerpts from his intervention:

- Racism is a present issue and alterophobia, as contempt for the other, is the most current form of racism. Racism creates distance and mental barriers. This is seen both in books and in libraries and, particularly, in education, since we are taught things that have nothing to do with the life of the people. Wealth is in the difference. The peasant is showing wealth by speaking; in their lexicon is Quechua and their traditional ways of speaking.

- On 19th November, 1532, there were 10,000 deaths in Cajamarca. Nobody remembers this date in schools. The arrival of the book, of writing, to our towns was with a massacre. If the book reaches a place without trust, it is an intruder. There is no empathy. You have to change the DNA of the book, you have to change the order of belonging.

- There is a strong link between language and affection that we should never disassociate. Language has warm colours, pleasant smells, so it is sad when words are dressed with pure grammaticalization. It is necessary to demystify complicated words, because words must also be taken off their high horse, integrating diverse and difficult words to diversify speech.

- It is not bad to speak in the standard language, but without correcting the speech typical of rural areas. It is about exalting, not denying the other's face. It is about the recognition of the children's sayings and silences, because in rural areas there is a deep appreciation for silence, participation is not only talking. In rural areas we participate with silence when the elder takes the floor. Our highest level of participation is listening.

Postural control

On 15th July, Rita Mocker, head of the Community Program for the accompaniment of children with projected abilities, and Mara Mires, volunteer of the Network, gave us a workshop on Postural Control.

These practices are very necessary to face this new modality at a distance. Many of us lead such a sedentary life due to the demands of virtuality, which sometimes involves spending practically all day in front of a computer, exposing ourselves to ailments that harm us both mentally and physically.

Thanks to Rita and Mara for all the recommendations and exercises that they shared with us.

Learning

On 24th June, we had the presence of Mara Mires Mocker, a volunteer from the Network, invited by the Cajamarca Special Basic Education Resource Center (CREBE).

Mara provided the “Learning” workshop, about the learning process, motivation, knowledge, memory, etc., for facilitators of adequate reading and learning.

The subject was of great interest because we must know these details for the development of our skills and, in this way, learn more and better.

It is very useful to put this knowledge into practice, not only for our professional life but also for daily life since, through the strategies and techniques that have been exposed, it will greatly facilitate us for a correct understanding of reading.