The structure of the missions had no rules or models to follow. It was born thanks to the initiative of several members of the Patronato who organized the first missions with the help of some students. Groups of young intellectuals, artists, writers, and especially primary education inspectors and teachers shared the enthusiasm for this time of hope under Manuel B. Cossío’s leadership.
Not everybody had the same level of responsibility or participation. There was a core of teachers, inspectors and students working regularly; some were team leaders and led several missions on behalf of the Patronato. However, there were others who only took part in a mission or two, helped in a given project, or were only members of the theater and choir. Patronato member María Luisa Navarro said:“In fact, the missions were real sports teams, without a fixed leader. There, people were appointed on the spot according to their abilities and the issue at hand: some could connect electricity; others knew how to attract people’s sympathy; others could nail nails. Everyone did everything, and the one who knew the best became the boss.”
