The Human Library is your opportunity to 'borrow' people who have interesting or challenging stories.  Choose the person you want to encounter on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and then you'll have a chance to hear their stories and to ask them questions.  This year we have an amazing range of people from a wide variety of backgrounds and a real wealth of experience.  Enjoy!

 

Saturday

World Youth Day group

what was it like to travel to Sydney and encounter the world?   

 

It’s all gone Pete Tong 1

a panel discussion with four folks who have experienced or support people with mental health issues   

 

Cathedral of Silence

come and hear about the work of some crazy Christians in Denmark as they help Roskilde festival goers encounter the ‘other’. 

 

Young people from another faith

What’s it like being from one of the smaller faith groups in Scotland?   

 

Jen Zielinski

Jen worked with the Church of Scotland in Israel and Palestine helping people from over here to get a better grip of life over there.   

 

Alan Brown

Alan’s life changed dramatically when he had to care for his mother who had dementia.   

 

Bob Scanlon

Bob is a hermaphrodite and has chosen to be a man.  Due to his condition he was in a lot of trouble when he was younger and ended up in prison at one point.  He became a Christian later on in life and is an elder in the Church of Scotland and very committed to young people.

 

Alex Bauer on being a youth worker

Alex has been working with young people in a local church for many years.  What is her job actually all about and how can other people get into this type of work?

 

Angus Morrison and Douglas Nicol

Angus and Douglas have been leading the work of the Mission and Discipleship Council since its inception in 2005.  What do they think the Council is for?  What do they think it has achieved since it’s inception and how can you get involved?

 

Ann Nicol

 

What's it like to be a head teacher in a challenging primary school in Edinburgh?  Join Ann Nicol who has been a teacher for many years as she tells the story of how she took on the challenge of bringing some schools together into a whole new situation and gain insights into the realities of being a teacher today.

 

Sunday

 

Linda Pollock

Linda has prophetic words to speak about the role children have in the life of our communities.

 

It’s all gone Pete Tong 2

We’ve asked Steve Mallon to discusses his experience of mental health issues.

Cathedral of Silence

come and hear about the experience of some young Scots who helped out with the Cathedral at the Roskilde festival in Denmark this summer.

 

Saima Bashir

Saima has been brought up in a very traditional Muslim home and still holds to many of the values.  She works at Cardonald College in student support.

 

Jen Zielinski

Jen worked with the Church of Scotland in Israel and Palestine helping people from over here to get a better grip of life over there.

 

Julie McElroy

Julie was born with Cerebral Palsy which has resulted in mobility problems, speech impairment and manual dexterity issues.  She is profoundly deaf and wears two hearing aids.  Come and hear her inspirational story about her recent expedition conquering one of the highest mountain ranges in the world.

 

Robert Paton

Robert was born with spina bifida.  He is a committed Christian, has been attending the Youth Assembly forever and in his home community he is an elder in his church and a real inspiration to many.

 

Shuna Dicks and Scott McCarthy

What’s it like to sense that God has a particular plan for you – one where you end up becoming a Minister?  What’s involved and what choices might you have to make along the way?

 

Meet the Browns!

Meet Alan, Val and Andrew one year on.  What’s life like now that Andrew is older and how does family life actually work?  Val Brown works for the Presbytery of Glasgow in the Youth Office based in the centre of the city.  She is married to Alan and they introduced their son, Andrew, to us last year and talked about what it's like to become parents.  This year you get to catch up with their story.