M is for magic (and Moro Moro)

Remember the “Bolivia libraries program ABCs”? Here’s the latest entry, which describes a phenomenon hard to quantify but essential to MCC’s work with libraries and library committee members:

What do you get when you put together people from ages 15 to 70-something, each with a different personality, some from the city, some from the country, most of whom have never met, and make them spend lots of time together in close proximity over a three-day period? Potentially, cliques or conflicts. But when even a group this diverse is united by a common purpose, as Sandra and I discovered, magic can happen.

The occasion was the libraries project’s annual excursion. In the past, program staff have taken the librarians and library committee members out for an afternoon at a local swimming pool or sports complex, the idea being to share some social time and relax. These past two years, however, my work partner Sandra and I have decided to extend the annual outing both timewise and in terms of geography, and to give it more of a purpose: an opportunity for the library representatives to teach what they know to others.


That’s how we arrived in Moro Moro at 11:00 on a Friday night: eighteen adults and a baby, eager to sleep after almost eight hours of bus travel up winding mountain roads. Our MCC colleagues who help coordinate water projects in the area, Brian and Krista, were waiting for us at the final stop. We helped the bus driver’s assistant unload our bags and supplies from the top of the bus, then groggily followed Brian and Krista to our lodgings.

Breakfast was bright and early, 7:30 a.m. We had no time to waste, because we’d invited the teachers from the local school to join us at 9:00 for a workshop on educational games. (Sandra and I also wanted to take the chance to talk with them about their local library, which MCC had helped start up years ago and has since fallen into neglect.) So we ate our bread and cheese with hot tea and coffee, gathered our things, and headed up the stone-paved street to the school.


The games were a hit, both for the teachers and for the librarians, many of whom work closely with kids and help them with their homework. The small-group format of the game time also helped break down barriers of shyness, and the teachers and library members were soon laughing together and helping each other work on their game strategy. When it came time to talk with the teachers about the state of their library, several of our librarians offered suggestions based on their experience and encouraged the people of Moro Moro to get more actively involved. At the end of the workshop, we stepped into the classroom next door, where the representatives of each library had set up a stand featuring a poster or other materials explaining what’s special about their library.

The next day was Sunday, but our rest wasn’t to come until the afternoon, when we split up to go for a walk, take a nap, or sit in the plaza and talk. The morning was dedicated to another workshop, this time just for the librarians and committee members. Once again, we saw the spirit of teamwork and camaraderie work their magic. Before explaining what our workshop topic was, Sandra and I divided the participants into three teams and gave each group 10 Bolivianos (about $1.50) and 25 minutes to go out and buy our morning snack for 21 people.

You should have seen their enthusiasm—within thirty seconds of the instructions being given, one group was already out the door and running uphill to the market, with the other groups on their heels. (We did threaten to make those who arrived late sing or dance in front of the group.) I have to admit, they did really well, each group arriving minutes before the appointed time, and bearing an assortment of crackers, pound cake, jello, and Kool-Aid to share.

It turned out to be a great way to introduce the importance of planning ahead—as we went over the experience together, the different groups talked about how they could have coordinated better amongst themselves and with the other groups, how leaders emerged and others followed their lead, how they had to improvise when they arrived at the market only to find that most of the food vendors had yet to arrive. We then applied the idea of planning to our personal lives, discussing in small groups and sharing our ideas about setting personal goals, the need to have determination to succeed, and what to do when things don’t go as planned. I saw several nodding heads and thoughtful expressions; they really seemed to take the idea to heart. Finally, the members of each library got together and planned an activity step by step that they’ve committed to carry out at their library in the weeks ahead.

And that’s just the “business end” of our experience. We also walked, talked, relaxed, and played together. We laughed almost constantly through a talent night that ranged from a poetry recitation to comic sketches to a hands-on short course on how to give head and neck massages. There were serious moments too: we prayed together for a young librarian whose uncle had just died, and for an older man whose brother’s health is failing. But by the time we left Moro Moro Monday morning, everyone was smiling, and we sang (to the amusement of the other passengers) most of the bus ride home. I think we all felt renewed and fortified for the work we do on behalf of libraries in Bolivia. At any rate, as almost all the participants said when we asked for feedback at the end of our time in Moro Moro, we sure did have fun.


Photo captions, from the top:
- On the bus, leaving Santa Cruz for Moro Moro.
- Teachers and library representatives play games that reinforce language, math, and critical thinking skills.
- Diego, a new librarian at the rural town of Los Tajibos, tells teachers and other library members about his library
- The participants in the excursion say goodbye to Moro Moro