When you think of someone who is homeless, do you still think of that man with the beard? With a shopping cart full of stuff? And cans of beer in the park? Anyone with bad luck and without too many family or friends around them can become homeless. Homeless people may look just like you, or your teacher, your neighbor or that businesswoman on the streetcar. In "Here I'm Home," Ben, Alex, Suzie, Florin, Egberto and Jacques tell their stories.
A (children's) book in which homeless people tell their own stories.
The idea for this book came from Floortje Vermeer. She works at Makom, a De Regenboog Groep walk-in centre for homeless people in Amsterdam. Impressed by the stories and talents of the shelter visitors, she conceived the plan to write them down to show a better and more honest picture of homeless people. To this the storytellers gladly cooperated and so it happened. You can read how they became homeless, what their day looks like, what they are good at, what they find difficult, as well as where they feel at home ....
Really.
So both the homeless characters in the book and their stories are real. With this, the book is full of memories, sad events, talents and dreams of homeless people and the given image of the homeless world is just as real. For example, Suzie talks about her fossil art, "It's art made from special things I find on the street. I have a whole book full now. When I feel bad, I look in my fossil art book. Then I immediately feel better. The fossil art items were broken or damaged, but with some attention and love they became beautiful again. In their own way, just like me!" The other characters: Kees, her parents and little brother, her best friend Mo, and the master, are made up. Saša Ostoja of, among others, the children's book series Donnie made beautiful illustrations to accompany the stories. All together makes it a valuable book for both children and adults.
Book presentation.
Children in conversation with homeless people.
On Tuesday, September 30, the book will be presented. During the afternoon meeting, one of the homeless protagonists will be interviewed by some elementary school students. The press is welcome at both this meeting and the evening meeting.
30 September, 2 p.m.-3 p.m., Casperle children's bookstore, Sarphatipark 99 (in cooperation with Oscar Carré Elementary School). With a little reading, a book handover to the deputy mayor of Amsterdam, something nice from the elementary school children to the visitors of walk-in centre Makom, and with Suzie: one of the storytellers from the book, who will be interviewed by children.
30 September, 19.00 - 21.00, Theater de Roode Bioscoop, Haarlemmerplein 7 With a book presentation to one of the characters from the book, an interview with this storyteller and writer Floortje Vermeer, a performance by the band of walk-in centre Makom and drinks.
