The Rotary Club of Richmond Hill in partnership with the Richmond Hill Public Library https://www.rhpl.ca is excited to bring to you “The Human Library”, at Richmond Hill Central Library, 1 Atkinson Street, on Saturday, November 21.

 

The Human Library is a global social movement where real people serve as "open books" who can be "borrowed" by readers for personal, one-on-one or small-groups.  Open your mind.  Unjudge someone.  Talk to people who have lived fascinating lives:

 

How does a young woman on track to become an English literature professor spend her 20s seeking justice for victims of human rights violations in The Gambia, Myanmar, North Korea, and elsewhere? How does confronting the worst crimes in the world change your perspective on human nature and the possibility of international justice? Come learn more about what she has learned, and her hope for the future…it may surprise you.

 

This is the journey of starting over in Canada, while embracing the beauty of Persian heritage. It’s a story of resilience, hope, and the determination to preserve language and culture for the next generation – so that identity thrives even in a new land.

 

Once a powerhouse in the Swiss music industry, he had it all: success, influence, and ambition. Then came the fall—millions in debt, no company, no home, and no hope. Friends vanished, confidence shattered. But five people believed in his comeback. This gripping story of resilience and reinvention reveals hard-earned lessons about trust, perseverance, and rebuilding a life from the ashes. Today, that same man stands as a Swiss-Canadian storyteller in Newmarket, ready to share the adventure that changed everything.

 

This is a story of overcoming shock, growing up overnight, fighting rejection, and relying on friends, all while having the determination to succeed despite emotional, financial and psychological hardships. I am a 91-year-old whose ancestors came to Canada in the late 1700s and early 1800s. My childhood was in a white Anglo-Saxon world that was filled with many poor people, a lot of sickness and the second world war. I lived a life of the upper middle class, until I was suddenly homeless. Hear the incredible story of building a life and a business while travelling the world and overcoming challenges.

 

This is the story of hope, resilience, survival, and transformation, and a tribute to relief workers and refugees around the world. Hear from a humanitarian relief worker with over 30 years of experience serving countries across the Middle East and Africa, including: Ethiopia, Sudan, Malawi, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

It takes courage and dedication to work in conflict zones and deliver humanitarian aid to populations affected by wars, droughts, ethnic strife, displacement and famines. It also meant facing perilous conditions: driving on mined roads, enduring sieges and kidnapping as well as long separations from family.  

 

Because sometimes, before you can tell your story, you must live inside the experiment of it. I have often made myself the subject of my own inquiry, testing inherited beliefs, questioning familiar assumptions and reflecting on how the stories we carry can shape the life we build.

From the stories we have grown with to the expectations attached to work, success, culture and belonging, I explore what happens when we pause to examine the ideas we have accepted as truth.

And how does it affect you when you move to another country? Which stories have shaped us? Which still serves us? And which might need to be reconsidered, reinterpreted or rewritten?

 

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Krish Krishamoorthy at kkrish99@gmail.com.  More information on The Human Library event is available at the Richmond Hill Public Library 

 

 

 

The Rotary Club of Richmond Hill is collecting purses for the “Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign”.  Can you please help us?

Often women in distress arrive at a shelter with nothing.  The purse brings comfort, hope and dignity to women and youth in crisis with the gift of purses filled with personal necessities.

 

Let’s get started!

 

How to get involved? Choose a beloved gently used purse, or purchase a new one.  With love and thoughtfulness, fill the purse with items such as feminine hygiene products, tissues, shampoo, conditioner, face mask (not disposable), hand sanitizer, toothbrush, floss, hair brush, gloves, hat, scarf, lip balm, coffee shop gift card, notepad, pen, a whistle or flashlight.

 

Where do I drop off the purses?  Rotary is collecting at three locations in Richmond Hill and area: Dr.CP Giri Dental Office at 9791 Bayview Avenue, Richmond Hill , Eggsmart at 155 East Beaver Creek Rd, Richmond Hill, or Power Bar Cafe, 105 Commerce Valley Drive West in Markham.  If none of those work, please contact Veda Harricharran at vharrich@gmail.com or 416 618 9090.Power Bar