by Matt Dembicki
Last week, I spent a week in Lima and Cusco, Peru, teaching
comics to high school and college students who are learning English, as well as teachers
who teach English. The sessions, which were organized by the U.S. State
Department, were held at what are called Binational Centers (BNCs), which are partially English language schools.
Upon arriving in Lima, I first served as a
co-judge for an annual national comics contest for youths, who submitted two-page
comics focused on an environmental issue, ranging from recycling to
deforestation and water pollution. What
was especially cool was the number of girls/women who participated. In fact,
two of the top three winning strips were written/drawn by women.
Following the announcement of the winners live via webcast
to the BNCs, I rolled up my sleeves and got going on the comics-making workshops with
ESL teachers. Since the focus was on how
to use comics to raise awareness of environmental issues, the teachers did
one-page comics on an environmental topic.
Over the next few days, I held similar workshops for BNC
students and the general public. It was especially interesting to see the wide
range of ages of folks who attended the workshops. I also had an opportunity to
talk about my personal work at a few events and through media interviews.
At all these events, it was especially gratifying to see a
passion for comics. Brazil and Argentina tend to grab international attention
when discussing South American comics, but Peru has a wonderful array of comics
creators. It’s encouraging to see an indie/self-publish scene in Peru, and to
witness an acceptance of comics among the general public as a medium to entertain and educate. And it’s especially wonderful to feel a
connection globally through comics. I’ve made some great friends in Peru. I
think you’ll see fruits of those friendships in the years to come.
A nice write-up in the A section in El Comercio, Peru's largest daily.
A quick photo with an El Camercio photographer and editor Adolfo Bazan Coquis
Comics creator and educator Fabrizio Rivas
The BNC library staff at one of the center's in Lima
With some English-language teachers following a workshop
Some of the books I used as examples of comics with environmental/conservation themes. I donated these books to the BMC programs.
I was amazed at some of the graphic novel displays at a couple bookstores in Lima.
A few wonderful comics I traded for in Lima. Cartoonist Renso Gonzalez and his brother put together some amazing books.
Couldn't resist getting this T-shirt for my son.
A copy of Trickster at the BNC library in Cusco
Wed, Sept 24 at 4 pm: In El Deafo, her funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator CECE BELL chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful--and very awkward--hearing aid. The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. 
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