Check out a “human book”: The Human Library Project at BCB brings together students and the Pankow community

The Human Library Project, led by Mariem Abdennadher ‘26, is a new initiative that invites different speakers from the BCB and Pankow community to share stories that “often get lost or overshadowed by the noise of media, stereotypes, and the routine of everyday life.” Inspired by the original Human Library concept, established in Denmark in 2000, with the goal of encouraging people to “unjudge someone,” the BCB project adopts a more localized focus: “There’s a distance between the neighbors and us,” says Mariem. “I thought it would be nice to have a space that reminds us to be curious about each other and develop listening skills and empathy.”

The idea was born out of Mariem’s involvement with BCB’s English Hour—a space where BCB students and Pankow neighbors come together to practice speaking English. Mariem found the work to be important, both as a means of making education more equitable and for building a relationship with the Pankow neighborhood. She was inspired to continue the work that she found “impactful” through a new project—one where neighbors and students can equally learn from each other.

Of the three events that the Human Library Project has hosted thus far, two have featured “human books” from the BCB community and one “human book” from the Pankow neighborhood. With wide-ranging topics including the Druze religion and Germany’s reunification, the events have produced lively conversation and excitement in the BCB and Pankow community. “It’s not huge, and I like that,” Mariem noted. “A smaller space makes it safer and allows for more vulnerable conversations.”

Mariem notes that those “who want to be a human book can reach out to [her] directly”—the aim is to keep things local and intimate. To that end, the “human books” are not archived, and the sessions are unrecorded: “If people knew they were being recorded, it would defeat the spontaneity,” she says.

As the project expands, the hope is to create a more fixed schedule for the Human Library sessions, says Mariem, “so that we can foster wider engagement from the Pankow community.” This structure could help transform the project into a consistent space for vulnerable dialogue and, ultimately, into a cornerstone of deep community engagement at BCB.

By Mishel Jovanovska ‘25

Post Date: 11-21-2024