Erasmus Chat – is an anual event orginized all around Europe to raise awarness about youth mobility.

This year, on the 13th of October, Mission Jeunesse together with other partners has organized an Human Library – the alive library where people are books and they have stories to tell. The main theme for the books was any long-term international experience – stage in Malta, EVS in Poland or Ukraine, Erasmus in Slovenia.

Also there were books to whom youth mobility was the main occupation and books who were parents of young people who had international experience. So everyone who were interested in any international program, how it affected the life of people would come and find out it through reading a book.

The Human Library is an international organization and movement that first started in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2000. It aims to address people’s prejudices by helping them to talk to those they would not normally meet. The organisation uses a library analogy of lending people rather than books. These people have « experienced prejudice, social exclusion or stigma, » and participants can ask them questions so as to « learn about the other person and also challenge their own prejudices. » The Human Library Organization is active in over 80 countries, in which there are a few permanent Human Libraries but most happen as events. In Erasmus frames – Human Library is a place were people who travelled for studies, volunteering or other mobility program can share with others how this experience changed their lives.

Logicaly, the event was hosted by Médiathàque Jean-Jaurès in Nevers, so alive  books and visitors were surrounded by traditional books.

After reading our « international books » we hope some « readers » got inspired and it will push them to move, discover and to understand how lifechanging could be even short travelling abroad.

Photos has captured different pieces of Ukraine – golden orthodox churches, soviet cars, buildings and beautiful nature. This small bit of Ukraine in Nevers will stay in Médiathèque Jean-Jaurès till 18th of October, so come and see it on your own! Thanks to everyone who came and participate in Human Library, we hope at least one person after talking to a « book » start to consider travelling as a good way to learn and discover more!

Thanks to everyone who came and participate in Human Library, we hope at least one person after talking to a « book » start to consider travelling as a good way to learn and discover more!

  Photos by Olesia Yanenko