May 10th, 2011 @ Oslo, Norway
Nils has been selling the street magazine, Erlik Oslo since the first issue. Various people come across at his pitch and greet to him with a smile. “This magazine makes people gravitate to me and enjoy communicating each other. This is huge change, comparing when I was a beggar and people just ignored me.”
The words of Nils reminded me of what Per Kristian had said. Most of the vendors of Erlik Oslo still have drug problems. Once you become drug addicts, it is so hard to be clean. Since knowing it, Erlik Oslo allows people to sell the magazine even before quitting drugs. “We make them be included into the society first. And after retrieving their self-esteem, they can face the problem of drug addiction,” Kristian says.
The glowing face of Nils is the proof of this method. Acceptance brings a big change into a man’s life. His peaceful smile is like result of magic wand. It’s almost a miracle. Not only him but also everybody needs a wave of magic wand, I thought.