How can you avoid losing yourself, your identity, and your roots, preserve the centuries-old history of your people at a time of enemy invasion? We have invited to the Human Library a human rights organisation analyst who spent nine years growing up in occupied Crimea and was only able to leave after coming of age; a Ukrainian Roma activist who fights stereotypes and misunderstanding in society while helping the young generation of Roma revive their identity; and a historian and architect from Kherson whose goal is to document every Russian crime against Ukraine’s cultural heritage and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.
The 'books' will include:
Yaroslava Sementsova: “I didn’t give in to Russian propaganda and left occupied Crimea as soon as I came of age. It was important for me to remain Ukrainian despite the occupiers’ attempts to impose another identity. Ask me, and I will tell you what it is like.”
Valerii Sukhomlyniv: “I am a Ukrainian Roma. I study Roma culture and language and help others better understand our community. Ask me, and I will tell you what it is like.”
Andrii Lutsyk: “I am a defender of cultural heritage from Kherson. I lived under occupation for six months and now I investigate war crimes. Ask me, and I will tell you what it is like.”
Every day, the Living Library features three 'reading' sessions at 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m., each lasting 50 minutes.
