One was born in Venice Living Library, where books are people and can be “borrowed” for the duration of 10-15 minutes, the time of a chat. Born from the idea of telling stories of inclusion, resilience and potential, it is part of the “Book that turns, Book that you read” Reading Festival in Venice, now in its twentieth edition and which will end on May 12th. The BarchettaBlu Children’s Library, for its twentieth edition, has decided to collaborate with The Human Safety Net: together they will inaugurate the Living Library at Home of The Human Safety Net in Venice This Saturday 4 May from 10am to 7pmat the Procuratie Vecchie in Piazza San Marco.
According to the mission of the philanthropic organization The Human Safety Netjoining forces of nonprofit organizations with those of the private sector can help support vulnerable families and the integration of refugees through work.
The social arm of the Generali Foundation, the organization collaborates with NGOs, social enterprises, companies and foundations in over 27 countries in Europe, Asia and South America, creating support networks and job offers. In 2023 alone, the House of The Human Safety Net attracted more than 45,000 visitors and organized 150 events, thus manifesting the social hub’s mission to create an open network that offers transformation paths tailored to refugees and/or vulnerable families.
Melting pot city struggling with entrance fees
Venice has always been a melting pot of cultures, from Marco Polo’s connections with the East, through the trade along the Silk Road up to the Syrian refugees who open fascinating restaurants in the streets. A mélange cultural also made up of tourists from all over the world who keep it alive and, at the same time, very busy.
The risk, as we have seen in recent days, is that it will give way priority to the large flow of passing people to keep the city’s economy active and do not consider the needs of those who live there.
Last April 25th was in fact the first day of ticket at the entrance to the Venetian capital: five euros for non-residents in the region should lead to a decrease in hysterical flows of tourists. While the Liberation was being celebrated throughout Italy, in Venice there was a demand for liberation from easy rental systems (such as Airbnb) which fuel “disposable” tourism.
At the event, organized bySocial Assembly for the House, there were also other organizations fighting for the defense of the island such as the NoGrandiNavi collective which has been protesting against polluting overtourism for years. Federica Toninello, spokesperson for the Social Housing Assembly, recalls “there are more than two thousand public residential houses that remain closed”.
Human stories to build social networks
To face the difficulties of a particular city like Venice, targeted policies and social networks are needed. Like those that the Living Library wants to encourage: thanks to the “books” in person it will be possible to converse and ask questions to the protagonists of “The Syrian war seen from Yarmouk“, or “Pink or blue?, that’s who I am“, you hate “Loving with touch” or many other stories available on Saturday 4 May.
“Readers” will be able to choose from the available titles the stories they want to hear, all personal life experiences that have as their common thread the overcoming of difficulties and fragility.
In “My voice” for example, the protagonist narrates sign language from an introspective point of view, while “Story of a law” tells of the birth of the La Gabbianella association, created to support the minor children of prisoners. Other stories such as “Memories and affinities with the night skies” and “Kibera: Weavings of Resilience” instead talk about the difficulties overcome by migrants and refugees thanks also to international cooperation. Themes related to gender identity are addressed in “Pink or blue?, I am like this”, while in “And why not?” the birth of Elena Foundation is told to underline the importance of solidarity among young people.
Art and culture to listen and include
At the opening of the Living Library there will be present, in addition to the Head of Immigration Service and Promotion of Citizenship and Asylum Rights Gianfranco Bonesso, some exponents of the Venetian artistic and cultural sphere that supports social cohesion. They will present their works i directors Gianni De Luigi and Alberto Castellani with theater and cinema, while writers and readers such as Walter Esposito, Carmela Bertone and Livio Vianello will bring texts and poems to LIS. Some volunteers from Young Caritas, Giovanni Alliata from Montereale will also be present to bring their testimonies and the Fondazione Cini will tell the story of the family and its birth.
The whole day will therefore be dedicated to the Third Sector, involving the social world through art. The multi-ethnic choir “Voci dal mondo” will transport readers to different countries and the Anton Choir will propose a barrier-free and inclusive world, thanks to its support for the fight against muscular dystrophy. The reference words such as I include And I listen will offer inspiration for the training course of Sabina Italiano and Marina Zulian, during which we will talk about Readings in LIS with Anna Cardinaletti and Reading with symbols: stories with the symbols of the CAA (Alternative Augmentative Communication), designed to encourage the participation of children with complex communication needs or reading difficulties.
May 4th will therefore be one of the fundamental stages of the “Book that turns, book that reads” festival, which in its twentieth year offers events in five sections: Families, Readings, Schools, Special Readings and Adults. Among the many offers, the centenary of the Giancarlo Ligabue Museum of May 13th and the itineraries for adults and children on the natural pharmacy on the island of San Servolo.
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