In 1921, the newly created Department of Public Education (SEP) launched a literacy and education program in rural areas throughout Mexico, mobilizing educators and artists – along with puppeteers – to tackle widespread illiteracy. Embodying the Mexican Revolution’s commitment to social justice reforms, Oaxaca-born SEP Director José Vasconcelos deployed teams of graphic artists, muralists, teachers and puppeteers to create a revolutionary pedagogy to attack the problem of centuries-old illiteracy. Programs such as Plaza Sésame (Street Street) and others demonstrate the effectiveness of puppetry in education.

Today, Libros Para Pueblos, a non-profit that works with 60 children’s libraries throughout Oaxaca state, is bringing  puppet shows and workshops to school and community libraries to complement other reading promotion activities and to promote the joy of reading.

This talk will discuss the evolution of puppetry in Mexico as a didactic and educational tool and demonstrate examples of its application in towns and villages today in Oaxaca. A video of the Libros puppetry project: youtu.be/7mITiSkdv2I

Presenters:

José Luis Zárate, Executive Director, Libros Para Pueblos. José Luis has more than 20 years of experience working for the non-profit sector in programs that contribute to improving the quality of life of socially and economically disadvantaged people.

Alberto Orozco, internationally recognized master puppeteer and founder of puppet theater and workshop, La Bruja, in Humantla Tlaxcala. https://www.facebook.com/labrujahuamantla/

Michael Bronn, member of Board of Directors, Libros Para Pueblos. After working in “family literacy” programs in the Oaxaca district of Los Angeles, Mike has six years of involvement with Libros Para Pueblos.