Christmas Family Library Box Campaign

This year we are raising money to provide 30 boxes of books to the most in need families in rural Andean Peru. COVID-19 has had a significant effect on families and education; school has been cancelled throughout Peru. Without internet access or even electricity many families are struggling.

We have teamed up with The Big Give where all donations have been match funded up to £1125

Donations open 12:00 PM, 1 December 2020 to 12:00 PM, 8 December 2020

What’s in the box? More details coming soon…..

Books across Borders

A brilliant, beautiful and inspiring discussion about reading in the UK and Peru. Frank Cottrell-Boyce (screen writer and children's author) and Alfredo Mires (Executive Director of the Bibliotecas Rurales in Cajamarca, Peru) talk about the differences and similarities between young readers in their respective countries.

Rural Library Network March Assembly

During this time of social distancing and isolation, the people of Cajamarca have had time to reflect on what is meaningful in life. With books from the Rural Libraries to keep them going, and through valuing the local traditions and hard work of farmers, the community is kept alive and thriving. 

Thankfully the network of Rural Libraries held their General Assembly the weekend before the state of emergency was called, which allowed the librarians to exchange books and take them back to their communities before the lockdown. The lockdown is strict in Cajamarca, and no-one is allowed to leave their house between 8 pm and 5 am. Anyone who is found breaking the rules is detained by the police or the army.

Here are some photos of everyone together at the March assembly -  a wonderful time to remember. Librarians, coordinators and families came together to review the activities of the libraries and reunite, ‘’knowing that we are deeply united and cared for as a family and community.’’

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Rosita Brings Books

It’s been an exiting time as books sent from Lima have now been distributed among our Network of the Rural Libraries. Encyclopaedias, dictionaries, literature, law and educational books will be of great benefit to the isolated communities of Cajamarca. By improving literacy through reading, knowledge of local traditions and culture can be recorded. Hundreds of books have now been published by the Rural Libraries, which keep these local indigenous skills alive. It is vital to retain awareness of these skills, as the mainstream education system excludes teaching the culture of indigenous people of Peru. 

A huge thank you to Rosita Vásquez for sending such a valuable donation.

Reading is a flame

Marleny Olivera, co-ordinator of the libraries in the San Ignacio area of Cajamarca, wrote to us recently telling of the enthusiasm generated by the rural library in the community of Potrero Grande: “The attention given to the books has opened space to learn better!”

Celebrating Mother Earth

Each Rural Library meeting begins with the traditional Andean offering to Pachamama or Mother Earth.

The offering ceremonies, commonly known to the Andean people as, “payments to land or payments to Pachamama” are rituals of the ancestors. The offerings are part of a system of reciprocity between the material world and the spiritual world. The purpose of the ritual is to give back to Mother Earth what she has given you. The coca leaf is an integral part of the offerings to the earth.