One of the conversations that set the tone of the agenda in this new version of the Bogotá International Book Fair was held by the Colombian author for young people and children, Gloria Cecilia Díaz, author of works such as ‘El valle de los cocuyos,’ ‘Eliador,’ and ‘Dalí, sweet bandit,’ in the company of the also writer and illustrator Amalia Low, on diversity as a heritage of society.

With a conversation that revolved around how stories can be developed from the differences that can create trauma in children and young people, Díaz and Low highlighted the importance of being different and how this feeling has been gaining more acceptance every day.

Low noted:

Despite the fact that we see ourselves as different, that we do not have the same capabilities as the other and that this creates exclusive problems for us, it is important to see our virtues and, from there, find solutions.

Defense of Diversity

Díaz and Low took advantage of their time on stage to propose an analysis of diversity through the intercultural, pointing out the value of the teachings of the ancestors, for example, and denouncing how society denies that difference and leads people to be completely uprooted from their roots.

Likewise, the authors mentioned some of the situations of exclusion faced by people who fail to fit into the pattern established by society and its dominant mentality on specific issues.

Díaz also assured that the fault lies with those people who exclude, highlighting that society discriminates because it is afraid of the other, of knowing new perspectives.

Qué felicidad empezar una nueva @FILBogota que cumple 35 años de iluminarnos, de inspirarnos y de abrirle la puerta a cientos de escritores de regiones de Colombia y diferentes países. Les damos la bienvenida a los asistentes, los invitamos a disfrutarla y comprar libros! pic.twitter.com/0x8ynKGmD4

— Claudia López Hernández (@ClaudiaLopez) April 19, 2023

Criticism of Education

The writers also criticized the educational system, pointing out that teachers must cover more than knowledge, skills that allow them to manage two different worlds: That of the children and their own.

“You have to think about educating parents and teachers so that they can understand the difference in perspectives that a father and his son can have on the same subject. It is important that families read and read to their children,” said Díaz.

Before closing her intervention, Díaz invited parents and the general public to encourage their children to read through poetry, since this genre develops through repetitiveness and the handling of different rhythms that are of great interest to this particular audience.