“We are ambassadors of the difference that unites us.”
There are moments that really mark and touch us … it’s amazing what a simple and trivial piece of foam that make Leonardo, the puppet, a thin and crooked voice and a simple little story can do to the eldest person, with a life full of memories, and even to the smallest child, who still has so much to dream and create. The book “This is my Home” and Leonardo are the proof of that, after several tiring mornings and afternoons, that took a lot of work from “building”, writing, rewriting, editing, deleting, reading and rereading, but the joyful noise of laughter from children and adults made all that work worthwhile …
I think it’s becoming a habit to get emotional about such simple things and victories, but to see countless children hugging a puppet as if it was their best friend, and see the elderly greeting Leo as a person is wonderful and there is no logical explanation for this feeling.
The concentration and amazement within everyone, wanting to know what’s going to happen in Little David’s world. Telling this small and (still) so fragile Story, I feel that I am changing the World, even if it is “behind home”, sometimes small gestures become big, and we do not realize it.
Many times, they call me “crazy”, because I am not afraid to see the world as a child, or because I say that the World has more than just seven colors, maybe because I talk with Puppets.
I have even been called “crazy” because I believe that a child can change the World.
I don’t think I am “crazy”, as they say, maybe “dreamer” is the word that fits better.
A ” crazy person ” is left to think, a “dreamer” makes thoughts happen….
Surely all those who have heard or read ‘This is my Home’, get the message and will work to make this the HOME of all.
As ‘Leonardo’ says:
“We are ambassadors of the difference that unites us.”
These are the words of Pedro Dias, participant of the KA3 project ‘’Brave New You – Reloaded’’, when we asked him to tell us about his experience during the last implementation and dissemination phases of the project – which came recently to its end.
On the 14th of February was the International Book Giving Day, so we decided that it would be the perfect time to donate our book ‘’ This is my home ‘’, which was a result from the implementation of different sessions on the topics of hate speech, discrimination, and racism, delivered during 2020 and 2022, with a class of highschool students in Olhão.
All the schoolteachers, staff and technicians were invited to read the book on the 23rd of February, in order to celebrate together the International Mother Language Day (21st February). In MOJU, to celebrate this date, we have also shared the book translated into the different languages of our partner organizations within the project.
We have to say that we are very thankful for the support from our local parish councils, who enabled us to make this book a reality, not only for the students who participated in the project but for all the people involved and that will be involved and share this tool to fight ethnic discrimination around the world!
You can find our book in different languages here:
“Somos embaixadores da diferença que nos une.”
Há momentos que, realmente, nos marcam e emocionam… é incrível o que um simples e banal pedaço de espuma e uma voz fina e torta e uma pequena Historinha simples, é capaz de fazer, desde o idoso que tem uma vida cheia de memórias, à mais pequena criança que ainda tem tanto por sonhar e criar. E o livro ‘’esta é a minha Casa” e o Leonardo são a prova disso, depois de várias manhãs e tardes cansativas, que deram imenso trabalho desde o “construir”, escrever, reescrever, editar, apagar, ler e reler, mas porém o alegre barulho dos risos dos pequenos e graúdos fez com que todo aquele trabalho valesse a pena…
Acho que já se vai tornando hábito emocionar-me com coisas ou vitórias tão simples, mas ver inúmeras crianças abraçarem um imóvel fantoche como se aquele “ser” fosse o seu melhor amigo, e os idosos cumprimentarem o Leo como uma pessoa é maravilhoso nem há uma explicação lógica para este sentimento.
A concentração máxima com que todos queriam saber o que se vai passar no mundo do Pequeno David. Contar esta pequena e (ainda) tão frágil História, sinto que estou a mudar o Mundo, mesmo que seja “por trás de casa”, às vezes pequenos gestos tornam-se grandes e não nos apercebemos.
Muitas vezes chamam-me de “louco”, porque não ter Medo de ver o mundo da mesma maneira que uma criança, ou porque digo que o Mundo têm mais que apenas sete cores, talvez porque falo com Fantoches.
Até já me chamam “louco”, porque acredito que uma criança pode mudar o Mundo.
Eu não me acho “louco”, como dizem, talvez “sonhador” seja a palavra que melhor se encaixa.
Um “louco” ficasse pelo pensar, um “sonhador” faz o pensamento acontecer….
Certamente todos aqueles que ouviram ou leram “Esta é a minha Casa”, perceberam a mensagem e vão trabalhar para que esta seja a CASA de todos.
Como o ‘Leonardo’ diz:
“Somos embaixadores da diferença que nos une.”