Prague residents will soon have a unique opportunity to “borrow” a person instead of a book as part of the Human Library of Kindness, an initiative organized by the British Council. The event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kampus Hybernská in Prague. Designed to break down social barriers and foster empathy, the event allows visitors to engage in 20-minute face-to-face conversations with volunteers from diverse and often marginalized backgrounds.

Under the Human Library format, participants act as “readers” while volunteers serve as “books.” These “books” include health professionals, community organizers, social workers, and members of minority communities who share their lived experiences in a safe, structured environment. The theme of this year’s event centers on public service and kindness, highlighting individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others, whether professionally or voluntarily.

According to Paul Wade, Country Director of the British Council in the Czech Republic, the initiative aims to give people the chance to encounter perspectives outside their everyday lives. Organizers hope the conversations will challenge personal prejudices and create meaningful dialogue between different social and racial groups. The concept of kindness became the focus after a successful 2025 trial run, where public service “books” generated strong interest and positive feedback.

Confirmed participants include representatives from Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) and the Red Cross, as well as Czech volunteers from organizations supporting single parents, abandoned children, and LGBTQIA+ survivors of sexualized violence. Readers may attend alone or with friends, either to listen quietly or engage in open discussion.

The Human Library movement began in Copenhagen in 2000 as a project at the Roskilde Festival and has since expanded to more than 85 countries worldwide. The Prague session marks the first time the British Council’s equality, diversity, and inclusion program has hosted a fully public event of this scale in the city. While entry is free, advance registration is required to secure a reading slot. Organizers hope attendees will leave inspired to extend acts of kindness within their own communities.