I‘m only human after all, don’t put your blame on me.
Saturday morning in Bolzano. Lots of people run through the narrow streets of the city center. The beautiful weather has lured all sorts of people into the streets. Tourists with hiking bags, dog owners, people with shopping bags, coffee drinkers, young and old, locals and foreigners … and we are there too.
Today is the YoungCaritas in Europe Day. We want to use this day to show how different people can be, anywhere in the world and in Europe. The network YoungCaritas in Europe has planned a Facebook campaign, the topic is #stillhuman. A variety of people can post a photo of themselves with a specific characteristic that makes them special. As the idea is already born, now it’s up to the realization. Prepared with pencils, paper, and cameras, we decided to go for it. How hard can it be?
It seems as we have misjudged the situation – people send us away before we even get a chance to start talking to them, they are busy, they have no time, no money … so we stop for a short consultation break. We need a different strategy how to talk to people. In front of the university we meet two students drinking coffee and started talking to them – two photos, the beginning is made. It is easier now. With a renewed motivation we look for smiling people. We pet a puppy and play with him, the owner takes a picture with us. A bar owner does not have any customers at the moment, so we chat with him for a while. Two hikers from Germany sit next to us when we stop for a small break; they want to hike to Verona. Strangers talk to us about their weekend plans. Everyone has their own story to tell. Finally we get the opportunity to take photos for our campaign.
At noon we all meet again, each small group met different people and has its own stories to tell. We all agree – it is not easy to ask strangers for a photo. Many send you away before they even know what this campaign is about. But once you start talking to people, it becomes clear that the idea of Europe is important to everyone. No matter how different we are, no matter from which countries we come, what our favorite food is or what sport we like: we are all people with wishes and concerns, with the same rights. With a catchy tune from Rag’n’Bone Man, we leave in different directions.
I’m only human after all, don’t put your blame on me.
~ Käthe Hanschmann
youngCaritas South Tyrol
