The guy who runs the library of the forest was an IVLP; we made a good choice. He is clearly a local leader. The library is more than a collection of books; it is a community center. Kids come to learn about their history and the local environment. Researchers come to study sciences and history. They have a theater where they show movies and have presentations. The library is home to a variety of discussion groups.
Rio Branco is a small city where people know each other and Macros is even more connected than most. It slowed us down when we went to a local restaurant, as he stopped to talk to patrons and people on the street. This is the kind of place where one person can make a difference.
I got to thinking about outreach and engagement. We make an effort to reach out to young audiences on the theory that we can have influence because they have not yet made up their minds about a lot of things. Does the analogy work for communities? A place like Acre is young. Lots of things are new, still inchoate, like the school in Nova Eperança I mentioned earlier. The initial condition sets the pattern for the future. Inputs have bigger influences here than any time.