What will a nine year old ask a blind person about, when invited to ask freely? How will a 6 year old engage in conversation with a person in a wheelchair? That was some of the questions we were eager to learn the answers to, when we introduced the Human Library for Children at Copenhagens Culture House Islands Brygge.

The Niqab book with her readers.

All of our volunteer books were quickly sold out. The young readers aged 6-12 could choose topics such as “the boy who heard voices (Schizophrenia)”, “the lady who cannot see (Blind)”, “the man who cannot walk (disability)”, “the girl who ate away her loneliness (Bulimic), “the girl who did not look like her parents (adopted)” and “the girl who looks like a Ninja (Niqab).

From the first minute questions flew through the air and answers were returned at almost equal pace. Eye to eye or face to face. The blind book with her dog and the child with her parents. Learning about each others perspective.

“How do you pour your coffee, when you can’t see?”, it sounded from the table, while vigorously examining how it feels on the fingers to read Braille. 

 “How do you wiggle mosquitoes away when you can’t move your arms?” the disabled book was asked while the woman wearing a Niqab did indeed resemble a Ninja, she was frequently asked to explain why she wears religious headdress.

Our disabled book with his readers.

The Human Library for children was an instant hit with books and readers. Finally a library where you do not have to be quiet. Finally a chance to ask freely and nobody will hush you or say that you are not supposed to ask people about these matters, because here you can. Here your questions are welcomed by the people who volunteered to  answer them. For young and grown ups, alike.

“I’ve got answers to all my questions – it was so much fun! I want to borrow more books! ”. Said a girl with light in her eyes and a smile on her lips after reading her first book.

This was the first event in a series we are piloting with the City of Copenhagens Culture House at Islands Brygge. The Human Library for Children will return in the fall with more offerings for our youngest readers on our bookshelf. 

The first Human Library for Children also got some media attention, as journalists from Denmarks Radio and TV2 Lorry attended the event. Link to article in Danish and the news segment featured on TV2 Lorry: https://www.tv2lorry.dk/artikel/boern-laaner-miriam-med-niqab-og-udforsker-fordomme

The post The first Human Library for children appeared first on The Human Library Organization.

Imagine an eight year old asking a homeless person where they sleep at night? Or a person with disability about how fast their electric chair goes? This could be the scene at Copenhagens Culture House at Islands Brygge on June 23rd.

A bookshelf full of content aimed at helping children understand diversity and find answers to questions that parents often cannot give the answers to.

Bullying, homelessness and more

As always the Human Library is free for all and we expect to publish topics on bullying, self harm, disability, mental health, gender, occupation, ethnicity, religion and more. Readers from the age of 6 are welcome with a parent or guardian.

Pilot with city of Copenhagen

The Human Library for children is a pilot project developed in partnership with Kulturhuset Islands Brygge. Through a series of events with especially tailored content, we want to have a closer look at how children take advantage of the Human Library as a learning platform.

The June 23rd event is the first in a series that will run through the fall.

The post Human Library for children appeared first on The Human Library Organization.

A Human Library for Children

It has been a long journey full of tremendous learnings. We are still learning and finding new ways to create a safe space for difficult conversations. For open exchanges of courage and curiosity. Few are more open than children and if permitted by their parents, they will ask the most amazing and fruitful questions. Tonight we will know some of them and the answers given by the books from our bookshelf at the first Human Library for children and their parents.

The event will take place on October 12th, 2018 at from 6 to 8 pm at Copenhagen Central Library.

A special selection of content

The bookshelf for this event has been edited especially to fit current topics and issues that could be of interest to children. This includes a Refugee from Syria, a person with disability, a topic about eating disorders, a police officer, a victim of bullying, a formerly homeless woman and a person who is body modified. Normally people under the age of 15 have to be in the company of an adult to attend a Human Library and to borrow a book.

Conversations at the event will be up to 30 minutes with no option to extend. We are looking forward to welcoming our youngest readers ever for conversations about important issues.

The Human Library for children has been prepared in partnership with the Childrens Library of the Copenhagen Central Library as part of Copenhagen Culture Night 2018.

The post A Human Library for children appeared first on The Human Library Organization.