1971-2021: Tribute to our Network - 9

We continue celebrating our 50th anniversary, remembering that the Cajamarca Rural Libraries Network includes also the active presence of animals. The variety of companions in the Andean world are many: the fox, the puma, the deer, the mangujo, the ulluay, the vizcacha, the eagle, the chilalas, the guyanas, the lic-lic, the guinea pigs, the sheep, the donkeys and the cows; just to mention a few. And how not to recognize and celebrate the presence of our winged god: the hummingbird, source of voices and secrets. We revere the life and the soul that is in our Earth.

Tribute to courage and drive - 9

 

A heartfelt tribute to the constant work of the Yglesias family, from the Hoyada Verde sector, Contumazá province. We are referring to Don Ramiro, his wife Isabel and their children. They, as a family, tend the library work at home. Ramiro Yglesias is a promoter committed to reading circles in the various communities of Contumazá.

Fraternal hugs!

First National Meeting of Peasant Libraries

The National Library of Peru and the Bartolomé de las Casas Centre, in Cusco, organized the First National Meeting of Peasant Libraries, on 14th and 15th September, with the aim of generating a space to share experiences and reflect on the role of reading and the library in rural areas.

Representatives of libraries from the departments of Lambayeque, Lima, Cusco and Ayacucho participated in this meeting, and a tribute was paid to the Rural Libraries Network and our brother Alfredo Mires, who participated by recounting the experience of the Network in the discussion “The role of the book and the library in the rural area.” At the thematic table: "Challenges and Possibilities of Peasant Libraries", our sister Lola Paredes participated.

At the end of his participation, Alfredo mentioned that "Respect and humility have to be components that mark coherence and consequence."

We appreciate these meetings and gatherings.

Afternoons of coffee and action

To liven up our afternoons, fill us with energy and enliven the conversation by recalling anecdotes from the great library family, or making plans for the future, coffee brings us together, another blessed fruit, cultivated with great dedication and commitment in Cajamarcan lands.

Thank you brothers, Aníbal Segura and Jorge Carrasco, from the community of San Juan, in Cutervo, for sharing with us. We not only enjoy the great taste of coffee and the pleasure of preparing it, but also your affection and, as someone says: "Who loves you, gives you coffee."

Winged snakes and puma people

A few weeks ago a large package arrived from Germany: Kyra Grewe, a friend of ours and of the network for years, had sent us her book Winged Serpents and Puma People, "her child", as she likes to calls it. It is a book in German, but more Peruvian than many other Peruvian books I have read ...

In approximately 300 pages, Kyra shares with her reader her travels to Peru. Although she visits and describes many tourist places, she invites us, above all, to accompany her on what could be called her inner journey into deep Peru.

Kyra's book is criticism, reflection and testimony. It is opening, searching and finding. It is unlearning and relearning. It is solidarity, community and ayllu (family).

It is a description of an immense inner change that requires the ability to open up to something new, unknown, something that inspires, but also invokes fear and insecurity. It's the story of your meeting, Kyra, with a little light at the end of the tunnel. And that light was turned on by thousands of community members of Cajamarca, nights around the fire, shared meals, mingas, walks, laughter.

And above all: laughter and the possibility of laughing at yourself. In many moments, Kyra's humour, her capacity for self-criticism, to tell with sarcasm and details of her multifaceted encounters with the Andean world, drew a big smile on my face. And at many other times, they made me burst out laughing.

Thank you, Kyra, for your sensitivity, your love for our people, for the Rural Libraries Network. I am honoured that you have allowed me to share this journey with you, sister. I admire your frankness, your path, your devotion. You are simply great… and so is your book. Hopefully soon we will be lucky enough to have it also in Spanish!

Rita mocker

Love and destiny

After a long time and a long confinement due to the pandemic, for Fiestas Patrias we were able to visit our family who lives on the north coast, in the countryside. It is a very beautiful place, surrounded by trees and crops where iguanas, lizards, parrots, hummingbirds and, of course, cats and dogs also live.

When we arrived, one of the dogs had given birth: eight beautiful puppies came out to meet us and conquered our hearts. So, as a family, we took on the task of caring for these little creatures and their mother.

During the week we spent on the farm, the pups grew up and began to play. We heard their barking when we get up and we felt their tiny little tongues caressing our bare feet when we approached them.

From our experience we know that puppies in the mountains are also highly appreciated: many times, people even exchange a puppy for a guinea pig or a hen to have company and someone to take care of the house. So we decided to take the eight puppies and find homes for them.

Along the way, our brother Ramiro Yglesias and his family, from Contumazá, received four of the pups, and in Cajamarca we quickly found a new home for another three. There was a little macho left ...

Then it occurred to us to put a picture of the puppy on the "networks" ... and almost instantly we received a notice from Sócota (in the province of Cutervo), which is about seven hours from Cajamarca: Wilson, a child from the Community Program, wanted to have the puppy.

So we had to organize the puppy's trip. With several stopovers and many hands that took care of him along the way, the little dog arrived safely at his destination. He is now accompanying Wilson… and, as you can see, it is an extraordinary affection.

Mara, Rumi, Alfredo and Rita

1971-2021: Tribute to our Network - 8

May the minga and the meeting not end, may we continue together to celebrate the bond with the land; may our books also continue to be guides for what we do.

May the strength of our communities continue to keep us warm and remember that we are here and here we continue.