Children's Literature in Chile, South America
When Storytelling Matters
A
few years ago children in a poor settlement in Chile started reading books for
fun. Today they tell their own stories in a unique magazine for children made
by children and I have come to make a documentary about these children and the
impact of literature
By
ANNA WEITZ
from Malmo, SWEDEN
It
was overwhelming to return to Valparaiso, the place where I five years ago conducted
my first interviews, shot and edited my first video recordings and, above all,
experienced those moments that convinced me to dedicate myself to journalism and
documentary filmmaking. It was also here I came across a Nordic-Chilean centre
for children's literature and learnt that entertaining children's books are rare
in Chile.
"Books here are all thick and don't have any images",
said one of the kids I met at "Cerro Alegre" - "the Happy Hill"
- which is one of many hills that constitute the city of Valparaiso, situated
on a bay of the Pacific Ocean.
At that time I was attending a beginner's
course in documentary filmmaking. Now I am here to realize an independent film
project together with two of my former class mates. After years of struggling
with studies, part time jobs, internships, unpaid film projects and fundraising
this is a dream coming true.
Chile has often been called the economic
miracle of South America. The lower parts of Cerro Alegre is one of the wealthiest
areas of Valparaiso, but the higher you get on the hill the deeper the gap gets
between those who have and those who don't. Up here
children have few 
opportunities
and very little access to culture and places to develop independent and critical
thinking. That's why it was decided to create a small children's library here.
The people behind it are all volunteers
with a belief that reading helps you start imagining things you otherwise never
would consider possible. Most of the books have been donated from Sweden, Denmark
and Germany and are then translated by hand. That means that there is also a concept
of recycling the surplus of welfare societies.
This far, a success story.
Children improved their reading skills, they stayed out of the street, at least
for a couple of hours a day, and they had a space where they could play and create
even though the facilities were far to small for the number of kids and the activities
did end up in chaos more often then rarely. But happy endings don't come that
easily in real life.
Time and time again the library was robbed, and
eventually it had to close. Again children became the victims of growing up people's
careless - or desperate - actions.
But the library still exists as an
organisation and some of the kids that have been involved its activities are now
editing a magazine together with one of the volunteers.
"Usually
adults don't take children seriously. This magazine is different because we are
children and we know how children think", says Gisselle, 13 who is member
of the editorial group.
Hearing her saying
this, and knowing that this magazine, that brings up topics ranging from how it
feels when a pet dies to drug dealing and domestic violence, now has a print run
of 
thousands
- and reach many more readers - does convince me that the access to a library
with relevant books has had a significant impact on her life.
In the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child the access to adequate books and media
is stated. This right has to be advocated, and that is one of the reasons we are
making this film.
Another reason is to show what it is like to be a child
in one place in today's globalised world. Children in Chile and Sweden, where
I grew up, indeed live different lives. But there are still things that unite
kids universally; Dreams about having a best friend or to become a chef or a swimsuit
model. Annoying brothers and sisters. And the fear of growing up because they
see what adults are doing to each other.
This is what I want to transmit.
But first we have to extract the essence of some fifty video tapes. And if our
storytelling-homework isn't done properly, this story will never get the attention
it deserves.
More information about the Nordic-Chilean Centre
for Children's Literature can be found on www.libroalegre.cl
(Published: 10.05.2008.)
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