May 20th, 2011 Part 2 @ Utrecht, Netherlands
The editor-in-chief of StraatNieuws, Frank had been working for the street magazine for 16 years. “If working just for helping homeless people out, I don’t think I could continue,” he said. “I just have been doing anything fun.”
The most memorable feature is “Social-Exclusion” issue, he says. Vendors hold the cover filled with a big-fonted letters, “Do you see me?” Frank talked that some kids had approached to vendors, saying “Do you see me? Of course, I can see you.” In a subtle way, the issue let people know about the homelessness.
Every Tuesday, StraatNieuws organizes writing club for vendors. One of the members, a Moroccan guy Hakim is Frank’s favorite. “His poem is so original, such as ‘My heart is big as a stadium/Who will come and play with me,’” he says. Hakim’s poetry sometimes appears on the magazine and readers are looking forward to the next one.

May 20th, 2011 Part 1 @ Utrecht, Netherlands
“StraatNieuws” is the street magazine sold in Utrecht, Netherlands which is famous for the religious role and cute bunny Miffy.
On the way from Utrecht station to its office, its editor-in-chief Frank and I ran across three vendors. One of them is Bert who had been struggling from drag-addicts and rough-sleeping at this station. “That’s funny that I work where I used to sleep,” he laughed. “I don’t have any family contacts, but readers give me much love. Some visit me every day to just hug me. I feel like I have 20 mothers and 40 granmas.”

May 17th, 2011 @ Neumünster , Germany
A director and only paid staff of the street magazine “Die Jerusalemmer,” Andreas began working here in the fall of 2001. So many responsibilities, from editing the magazine to management of the café, are on his shoulders. He even doesn’t have enough time to sit down. The smile of people gathering here, however, seems satisfy him.
One of his dreams is having a group home for homeless people. “It would be perfect if people living there feel ‘This is my home.’” As soon as he finished saying, running to next meeting.

May 16th, 2011 @ Neumünster, Germany
A small town in northern Germany, Neumünster with the population of 80,000 also has a street magazine, “Die Jerusalemmer.”
In 1987, it was just a tea party with a couple who was trying to have communication with people suffering poverty, alcoholic and so on. The circle got larger and “Die Jerusalemmer” and a café where anyone could get free yummy food and hot coffee got launched in 1994. This café feeds 50 through 140 people daily, supported by 30 volunteers these days.
When I peeked at the kitchen, Paul who began volunteering here just two days ago was cooking. I volunteered tasting the soup he cooked and it was so heart-and-body -warming one.
At café, Michael was relaxing over a coffee. “I come here every day for 12 years. Sometimes talking with friends, sometimes reading a book. This seat is the second home to me.”

May 13th, 2011 @ Copenhagen, Denmark
Simon, an editor-in-chief of Hus Forbi, welcomed me warmly. This graphic-savvy street magazine got launched in August, 1996, one year after UN social forum was held in Copenhagen.
“Hus Forbi” means “none of my business” and “Hus” does “home” in Danish. Nobody can live without thinking about home but you still keep ignoring this issue? This double-meaning title keeps asking us this question with a spice of Danish humor.
Simon joined Hus Forbi four years ago. The journalist with a master’s degree of development says, “Whether it is in Mozambique or in Copenhagen, poverty brings you the same desperation.”
Having a bond with vendors is joy and sorrow at the same time, he says. “I get along well with a vendor, however my sorrow deepen when I hear that he was trying to commit suicide.”
Roskilde Festival will be added as a pitch this summer and not only Simon but also all the staff and 600 vendors all over Denmark are excited about this news.

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.

May 9th, 2011 @ Oslo, Norway
Fifteen-minute tram trip from the Youth Hostel I stayed, took me to the office of “Erlik Oslo.” Keeping asking “where I am?” to anybody around me, I finally got there. As soon as entering the office, I spotted Per Kristian, who coincidentally visited St. Petersburg at the same time as me.
Per Kristian began unfolding the story of the birth of Erlik Oslo. The street magazine started when a graphic designer, Vibeke found out about The Big Issue UK. Through mutual friends, Per Kristian, Stien and Vibeke got together for starting up the magazine in this beautiful city.
Stylish and loaded with high-qualified pictures--- bunch of ideas for the magazine but less money…it made them decided to write letters to their government, asking for subsidies---but no response.
The stagnant response, however, encouraged Kristian to get on a road with a video camera. Interviewing beggars and he finished a movie with lines by them, such as “This is the worst type of life. Nobody pays attention to me and maybe I am no more human beings.” This film moved the government finally and Erlik Oslo got some subsidies for the first issue which came out June 2005.
“We printed out 10,000 copies and sold out within 10 days,” he says. The legendary first issue was sold 90,000 copies in three months.
Erlic Oslo permeates in this town well and has a great relationship with the royal family too. A movie, “Vendor 329” has just come out which features a vendor Johannesen. “I’m a big fan of royal family. If king and queen come over to see this film, I feel really honored,” he said to a reporter and this remarks brought the royal family to the theater! Sounds like a fairy tale!
Kristian is planning to a homeless film festival in Oslo in September. The community Erlic Oslo started is getting be larger and larger.