Diversity Day Events 2022

Diversity Day Event, 3 November 2022

This year’s Diversity Day included an interactive, face-to-face Living Library event. Students could confront their prejudices in a “library” where books were people. They could ask any questions from the following “Living Book” volunteers: blind (and her guide dog you can see in the picture below), vegan, Jewish, transgender woman, asexual, gay, bipolar, and autistic person, who were all happy to share their stories. The participants had twenty-minute-long conversations with three Living Books. These are some thoughts students wrote in the feedback sheets: “The organization fills a huge gap, and it is a great idea to talk to people about issues and life defining events these people experienced; the English part only added to the experience. Thank you ❤” “I felt safe and open, I had the feeling that I could ask anything without any judgement.” “I felt supported and all of my questions were answered.” “I would say I was very surprised. I liked how the conversation made me talk and hear about something I never heard before.” “It was nice to meet someone like her, and learn that there are other people like me, and I'm not just strange.” The Living Books shared some similar thoughts after the event: “I love when readers have the courage to share their experiences because today I felt that I could really help. In all of the discussions I met interested and open minded people with whom we had uplifting conversations filled with empathy. Thank you!” “Open minded, intelligent, sensible  people with the right questions and inputs. I am glad that we have met.” The event was organized by Márta Barbarics who also volunteers in the Living Library. If you would like to organize similar events, you can contact her at mabame@staff.elte.hu or the organization through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EloKonyvtar