Woodrow Wilson said: "I would never read a book if it were possible for me to talk half an hour with the man who wrote it".
Inspired by the above quote, this week Brighton charity Rise hosted the Living Library series of events at the Jubilee Library.
Volunteer ‘Living Books' made themselves available to be ‘borrowed' by members of the public for an informal chat about their lives and experiences.
Wednesday featured people whose lives had been affected by drugs and alcohol.
Thursday saw stories of survival from people who had experienced domestic abuse.
Friday offered the chance to meet people living with the affects of HIV/AIDS.
Ahead of World Aids Day this week, I ‘borrowed' one of Friday's participants.
It was incredibly moving to hear direct experiences of what it's like to cope with the personal experience of HIV and AIDS, and in particular, how it feels to be on the receiving end of ignorance and prejudice.
And it took immense courage for volunteers to be ‘open books' to strangers, with no personal gain, just the hope for greater understanding of a situation where life hasn't gone according to plan.
PS On World Aids Day itself (Thursday 1st December) I'll be attending a breakfast meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS, and members of the Halve it Campaign. I'll be back in Brighton later that afternoon to raise funds and HIV awareness with The Sussex Beacon - look out for volunteers shaking buckets in the city centre!
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