Storyteller Reaching Out to Children in Mexico
2020-07-25
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1Percibald Garcia knew that staying at home during the coronavirus lockdown is especially difficult for children.
2So, the 27-year-old architect decided to read them stories.
3Almost every day since the beginning of May, Garcia can be seen in Mexico City with his "wandering microphone."
4With it, he broadcasts stories to children who gather at apartment building windows to listen.
5While many children today have cellphones or computers, Garcia wants them to hear the human voice.
6He also wants them to realize they can use, even from a distance, the public plazas that have been an important part of Mexican life for hundreds of years.
7"We realized that almost nobody was looking after the way that kids were experiencing this lockdown," Garcia said recently.
8Setting up in one of the green spaces near apartment buildings, he read "The Crazy Opossum," by David Martín del Campo.
9It tells the story of a possum who suffers because he is so short.
10The possum tries to reach the moon to feel taller.
11Once there, he eats the moon - and then must decide, with other animals, how to bring it back.
12Before reading a story, Garcia often plays music by the Mexican composer Francisco Gabilondo Soler, known for his children's songs.
13Sometimes other storytellers perform, as does a puppet troop.
14And always, children appear at the windows of the apartment building to listen to the show.
15"In the last three months, everything has gone online, - work, contacts, shopping," said Garcia.
16He added that he thinks of his work as an "act of resistance" against technology moving into every part of human life.
17Rogelio Morales listened to the stories from the window of his grandmother's home.
18Since March, the 9-year-old has spent much of his time playing video games.
19"The only thing I go out for is to walk my dog," he said.
20"It's a little boring. I miss school."
21"It's nice," Rogelio said of the storytelling.
22"If we have something to do, or if we're very frustrated, we can relax a little."
23Luna Gonzalez came with her mother, Tatiana Vega, to listen to the stories from a safe distance. They both wore face masks.
24"I imagine the characters, I imagine what the animals are like," said Luna.
25"Sometimes we go out, because I get bored at home."
26Garcia calls his project "De la Casa a la Plaza."
27In English, that means "From the house to the plaza."
28"The public plaza has been extremely important in Mexico since the time of our ancestors," Garcia noted.
29"It is where people meet, talk, where the life of a neighborhood develops."
30Some children have even asked Garcia to read their own stories.
31Other people have been invited to read stories too.
32"This is an invitation to people to continue using the public plaza," he said.
33It is not only children who listen.
34Rogelio's grandmother, Maria Elena Sevilla, also listened from her window.
35"This young man will get a special reward from God, because it is not just children he is entertaining, it is people of my age, too," she said.
36I'm John Russell.
1Percibald Garcia knew that staying at home during the coronavirus lockdown is especially difficult for children. So, the 27-year-old architect decided to read them stories. 2Almost every day since the beginning of May, Garcia can be seen in Mexico City with his "wandering microphone." With it, he broadcasts stories to children who gather at apartment building windows to listen. 3While many children today have cellphones or computers, Garcia wants them to hear the human voice. He also wants them to realize they can use, even from a distance, the public plazas that have been an important part of Mexican life for hundreds of years. 4"We realized that almost nobody was looking after the way that kids were experiencing this lockdown," Garcia said recently. 5Setting up in one of the green spaces near apartment buildings, he read "The Crazy Opossum," by David Martín del Campo. It tells the story of a possum who suffers because he is so short. The possum tries to reach the moon to feel taller. Once there, he eats the moon - and then must decide, with other animals, how to bring it back. 6Before reading a story, Garcia often plays music by the Mexican composer Francisco Gabilondo Soler, known for his children's songs. 7Sometimes other storytellers perform, as does a puppet troop. And always, children appear at the windows of the apartment building to listen to the show. 8"In the last three months, everything has gone online, - work, contacts, shopping," said Garcia. He added that he thinks of his work as an "act of resistance" against technology moving into every part of human life. 9Rogelio Morales listened to the stories from the window of his grandmother's home. Since March, the 9-year-old has spent much of his time playing video games. 10"The only thing I go out for is to walk my dog," he said. "It's a little boring. I miss school." 11"It's nice," Rogelio said of the storytelling. "If we have something to do, or if we're very frustrated, we can relax a little." 12Luna Gonzalez came with her mother, Tatiana Vega, to listen to the stories from a safe distance. They both wore face masks. 13"I imagine the characters, I imagine what the animals are like," said Luna. "Sometimes we go out, because I get bored at home." 14Garcia calls his project "De la Casa a la Plaza." In English, that means "From the house to the plaza." 15"The public plaza has been extremely important in Mexico since the time of our ancestors," Garcia noted. "It is where people meet, talk, where the life of a neighborhood develops." 16Some children have even asked Garcia to read their own stories. Other people have been invited to read stories too. 17"This is an invitation to people to continue using the public plaza," he said. 18It is not only children who listen. 19Rogelio's grandmother, Maria Elena Sevilla, also listened from her window. 20"This young man will get a special reward from God, because it is not just children he is entertaining, it is people of my age, too," she said. 21I'm John Russell. 22Lissette Romero reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 23________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25lockdown - n. use of restrictions as a security measure 26architect - n. a person who designs buildings 27wander - v. to move around or go to different places usually without having a given purpose or direction 28plaza - n. a public space or open space in a build-up area 29composer - n. a person who writes music; songwriter 30puppet - n. a movable model of an animal or person 31shopping - n. the action of buying goods from stores 32boring - adj. uninteresting 33frustrate - v. to cause (someone) to feel angry because of not being able to do something 34entertaining - adj. providing enjoyment