“Captain’s” selfmade trailers go around the world

The Big Issue in the North (UK)

When James Little - aka “Captain” - lost his job, he was left with nothing - no job, no money and no home. But he wasn’t willing to give up, and so started building trailers made out of materials he found on the streets in order to provide accommodation for himself and his dog. Soon, Captain became a local hero, and a symbol of American ingenuity and resistance in both his hometown Sacramento, California, and beyond.

Five street papers have republished the Homeward Street News story so far. Aside from American papers - The Journey and Street Zine (both from Texas), and Salt Lake Street News (Utah) – Captain was republished in Europe by both The Big Issue in the North (UK) and Shedia (Greece). The story can still be downloaded here.

The Journey (USA)

Captains selbstgemachte Fahrzeuganhänger gingen um die Welt

Als er seinen Job verlor, stand James Little alias „Captain“ vor dem Nichts: kein Geld, keine Bleibe, keine Arbeit. Doch der Amerikaner lies sich nicht unterkriegen und begann aus Materialen, die er auf der Straße fand, Anhänger zu bauen, die ihm und seinem Hund als Unterschlupf dienten. Bald war „Captain“ bis über die Grenzen seiner Heimatstadt Sacramento, Kalifornien bekannt und wurde zum Symbol für Einfallsreichtum und Widerstand.

Fünf Straßenzeitungen veröffentlichten den Artikel aus Homeward Street News bis jetzt. Neben den amerikanischen Zeitungen The Journey, Street Zine (beide aus Texas) und Salt Lake Street News (Utah) verbreitete sich Captains Geschichte auch in Europa und wurde vom Big Issue in the North (Großbritannien) und von Shedia (Griechenland) abgedruckt. Den Artikel können Sie immer noch hier herunterladen.

Jamie Oliver’s “letter to my younger self” proved moving for street paper readers across Europe

Bodo, Germany

Who would have thought that quick-witted Jamie Oliver was so shy at school that he hardly ever spoke to girls? In the Big Issue UK’s, “letter to my younger self”, the popular British TV-chef talked about his fast, crazy life and revealed what he would say to his 16-year-old self over a beer.

Bodo, Germany

Bodo and the Jerusalemmer from Germany, Megaphon from Austria, Nový Prostor from the Czech Republic, Megafon from Norway and Shedia from Greece published his personal story.

Jamie Olivers “Brief an mein jüngeres Ich“ rührt Straßenzeitungsleser in Europa

Bodo, Germany

Wer hätte gedacht, dass der schlagfertigeJamie Oliver in der Schule so schüchtern war, dass er sich kaum mit Mädchen reden traute? In seinem „Brief an mein jüngeres Ich“, erschienen im Big Issue UK, erzählt der Starkoch aus seinem verrückten, schnellen Leben und verrät, was er seinem 16-jährigen Ich bei einem Bier sagen würde.
Bodo und die Jerusalemmer aus Deutschland, Megaphon aus Österreich, Nový Prostor aus Tschechien, Megafon aus Norwegen sowie Shedia aus Griechenland druckten die persönliche Story rund um den sympathischen Briten.

Shedia, Greece

Exclusive interview with German president published in 12 street papers

Strassenfeger, Berlin

Andreas Düllick, editor in chief of the German street paper Strassenfeger, recently landed a scoop on behalf of German street papers when he obtained an exclusive interview with German president Joachim Gauck.

Hinz&Kunzt, Hamburg

In a detailed and very personal interview, Gauck talked about issues such as poverty, homelessness and integration. Paying tribute to street papers everywhere, he said: “We need people like you, who have a social conscience and remind others of theirs.”

Twelve German street papers published the interview with many using Gauck as their cover story.


Exklusives Interview mit dem deutschen Bundespräsidenten erscheint in 12 Straßenzeitungen

fiftyfifty, Düsseldorf

Strassenfeger Chefredakteur Andreas Düllick landete vor Kurzem einen riesen Coup: Exklusiv für alle deutschen Straßenzeitungen interviewte er den deutschen Präsidenten Joachim Gauck.

Strassenkreuzer, Nürnberg

In einem ausführlichen und sehr persönlichen Interview stand er ihm Rede und Antwort zu Themen wie Armut, Obdachlosigkeit und Integration. „Wir brauchen Menschen wie Sie, die ein soziales   Gewissen haben und andere Menschen an deren soziales Gewissen erinnern“, lobt er das Engagement von Straßenzeitungs Machern.

Insgesamt 12 Straßenzeitungen aus Deutschland veröffentlichten das Interview, viele davon als Coverstory.

Abseits!?, Osnabrück

HEMPELS, Schleswig-Holstein

Invisible People

All too often, homeless people become invisible in our societies. Hurried passers-by look the other way and go about their day.

However US filmmaker Mark Horvath is harnessing the power of social media to empower homeless people to tell their stories and remind the world of a forgotten people.    

Since 2008, Invisible People has traveled to over 100 cities in 6 countries, interviewing homeless people and families. The videos are raw and unedited and the Invisible People website carries the disclaimer, ‘Caution, some content may be offensive. Our hope is you’ll get mad enough to do something.’

They are young, old, couples and even families. No two stories are alike and they challenge perceptions about how and why people end up on the street.

In each video, Horvath asks, ‘If you had three wishes, what would they be?’ The answers are humble and a stark reminder of the things that many of us take for granted. Sharron in Oxford hopes to be reunited with her children. 20-year-old ‘Rails’ hopes to one day be able to settle down and have a family while college student Alyona simply hopes to have a roof over her head.

Far from invisibility, the project makes 6.5 million social media impressions per week. Mark is currently working with @Home on finalizing a documentary about homelessness and with PBS on developing a smartphone app. It’s hoped that this will inspire people to turn apathy into action and open eyes to homelessness. 

Below are a sample of the interviews Mark has conducted with homeless people. Many more are available on the Invisible People website.

Rob

Natasha

Viv

Big Issue Ballet in Korea

Muscles tensed from the cold, backs hunched against bracing winds, the constant anxiety of survival. Time spent living on the streets takes its toll on both body and soul, however vendors of The Big Issue Korea edition have found relief in an unlikely place: ballet.

For almost two years now, vendors have attended weekly classes run in partnership with the Seoul Ballet. The gentle music and graceful movements help to soothe vendors both physically and mentally, as well as building their confidence.

"When I first met them, they avoided direct eye contact and were quite huddled up." Says James Jeon, Artistic Director of the program, "But ballet has helped them perceive how different parts of their bodies move and how they can find balance... This has led them to value themselves more."

Since the classes began in 2011, many of the vendors involved have succeeded in getting off the streets and moving into stable housing.