Dear children, we`d love to share with you a little tale that was created by the kindergarten teachers of Kusi Kawsay for their students during the lockdown in Peru.
 
The tale is about the little ‘Vizcachin’ and mama ‘Mallki’. The ‘Vizcacha’ is a wild rabbit that lives in the rocks of the Andes, apart from its bushy tail. And ‘Mallki’ means tree in the Quechua language 

 

The little Vizcachin
Firefly of the night, the little tale begins, please lend us some of your light.
 
The little Vizachin is confused. Why does he need to stay at home? That nobody knows how the Vizachas like to leave and run. He has not been able to go to the school of Vizcachas. He has not been able to play with his friends in the fields. And his friends have not been able to come to visit him.
 
The little Vizcachin is trapped in his beautiful hole, his little home. At least he could look through the window. Through the window he can see: rocks, herbs, grasslands. He was surprised how much he could see. Little ants, running in line on a trunk. Shiny ladybugs on the dry leaves, while mosquitoes were flying around. But even though he could see all of this, the little Vizcachin is getting impatient. Why does he need to keep staying at home?  
 
It didn’t make sense to him, to not be able to explore. So, mama Mallki, whispered to him: “The things are not how they used to be, but believe me, soon, again, you will be free. Trust in me, trust in me”. The little Vizcachin knew in his heart that he always could trust mama Mallki. Mama Mallki has the wisdom of nature in her, she knew it all. The birds and the wind were her friends and messengers. They visited her every day, sharing the news about the little Vizcachin.  
 
The little Vizcachin could hear when the birds came closer. He could hear them singing at the tip of the branches of mama Mallki. The little Vizcachin could see when the wind came to visit. He could see when the branches swayed from one side to the other. Sometimes the little Vizcachin had to close his windows. Since the leaves and the dust stirred up through the wind.
 
Every day mama Mallki continued whispering to the ear of the little Vizcachin. “The things are not how they used to be, but believe me, soon and again, you will be free. Trust in me, trust in me”.
 
So the little Vizcachin only had to trust and wait. He knew that soon he could be free again to leave his house and to go for a walk, run, explore, between the rocks, between the herbs, in the wonderful grasslands.
 
And so, while he waited, the little Vizcachin surprised himself with how many things he could find in his cozy hole, his house, his home.
 
The little Vizcachin can dance.
The little Vizcachin can sing.
The little Vizcachin can draw and paint.
The little Vizcachin can jump and roll on the ground.
The little Vizcachin can dance and sing.
 
The little Vizcachin can clean, wash and help in the kitchen. He loves to see drawings and reading books as well.
 
Little Vizcachin can, he loves it.
 
Colorín, Colorado, the story has ended. Thank you firefly for your beautiful light.
 
 
Special thanks for this translation done by Julia Attevelt