Living library: stories of flight and new beginning in Fulda!

Living library: stories of flight and new beginning in Fulda!

On February 1, 2025, the event "Living Library" took place in the University, State and City Library (HLSB) Fulda, which aimed to bring people together with different life experiences. In this innovative format, the participants acted as "living books" and told their personal stories in small rounds of talks. This form of intercultural exchange creates a unique platform to gain insights into the experiences, challenges and fears of people with flight and migration experiences.

The variety of "living books", which came from Syria, Afghanistan, Mozambique, Iran and the former GDR, was particularly remarkable. In a total of seven rounds of discussion, participants were able to "borrow" the "books" for 20 to 30 minutes each, listen and ask questions. The topics treated included the challenges and fears before and during flight, the hurdles of the new beginning and the life between two cultures. This event was part of a two -semester project workshop in the bachelor's degree in social work.

a sustainable project for intercultural exchange

The "Living Library" was organized in cooperation with the Cultural Office of the City of Fulda, the Fulda University of Applied Sciences and the HLSB Fulda. The students were decisive for the acquisition of the "books", the organization and the course of the program. According to Dr. Thomas Heiler and Prof. Dr. Martina Ritter showed great interest and commitment to implementing the event. The first part of the project focused on the theoretical foundations, while the second part included the practical implementation as well as a reflection and oral examination.

The Intercultural Woche also reports on the positive effects of such intercultural events. The method of the “living library” has its origin in Denmark and is used in various contexts, from public events to seminars. The main thing is to promote personal encounters and direct dialogue. This direct communication can be questioned prejudices and stereotypes, which is particularly possible in a protected framework.

diversity and intercultural communication

The importance of intercultural teams in everyday work is becoming increasingly recognizable today. According to inqa , misunderstandings, which are often attributed to cultural differences, are often the reason for increased stereotypes and prejudices. In order to counteract this, active diversity management is necessary. Important factors such as deculturalization, diverse communication and inclusive thinking should be taken into account.

Through personal encounters and the interest in the stories of other people, trust and understanding are promoted. The "Living Library" in Fulda impressively shows how such an intercultural exchange not only strengthens the understanding of the challenges of life, but also creates a healthy basis for respectful coexistence. Overall, such events take place again and again and contribute to reducing prejudices and promoting a more open society.