The ‘Human Library’ project has arrived in Adeje as part of the XIX Book fair, and is a way of valuing the tradition of oral literature. The Human Library is a library of people, where readers can browse or ‘borrow’ human beings serving as open books, each with a unique story unknown to the public, one that might help break prejudice and stigmas. The Human Library is open to the public on Wednesday April 20th from 6pm in the Las Nieves centre for participation and social harmony. Registration is recommended and can be done online at www.adeje.es.
According to the councillor in charge of the fair, Maria Clavijo Maza, “We wanted to contribute in some small way to the elimination of discrimination among our young people, celebrating our differences and promoting dialogue, tolerance, understanding among people with different backgrounds and cultures and ways of living. We can’t forget that Adeje is home to over 120 nationalities, each with its own customs, beliefs and traditions. That diversity is our wealth”.
Understanding a person is an open book, someone with whom you can talk, debate, reflect and discuss various themes is the key to this initiative. There are many Adeje stories to be ‘read’ on Wednesday. Ángel is 27, and has lived in what could be described as limited situations, he was a prisoner in Venezuela, a volunteer in Bulgaria working with refugees, and his life is a reflection of resilience. Montse, brings the history of the women in her life and in her past, her grandmother and her mother, a woman who ways “struggle is not just about surviving it is about changing the things you don’t like”.
Awa is Senegalese and a mother of four children. Her story is of leaving to move to Tenerife, of education, community and solidarity. Ana was born in Uruguay, but escaped a violent abusive situation to move here and make a new life for herself and her children.
The Human Library or “Menneskebiblioteket” as it is called in Danish was created in Copenhagen in the spring of 2000 by Ronni Abergel and his brother Dany and colleagues Asma Mouna and Christoffer Erichsen. The original event was open eight hours a day for four days straight and featured over fifty different titles. The broad selection of books provided readers with ample choice to challenge their stereotypes and so more than a thousand readers took advantage leaving books, librarians, organisers and readers stunned at the reception and impact of the Human Library.
The Human Library® is a global innovative and hands-on learning platform, committed to higher learning, medical training to civic engagement to better all of our understanding of diversity in order to help create more inclusive and cohesive communities across cultural, religious, social and ethnic differences.
