The Human Library makes it possible to borrow so-called "human books" in order to talk to them about their lives and ask questions on any subject. Credit Agricole Bank Polska headquarters’ library featured 10 "titles", such as a feminist, a deaf person with a cochlear implant, a Donbass refugee, and a Syrian.
The meetings were held in the convention of "blind dating" – a person enrolled in a given date and place did not know with whom they will have to chance to talk. During each of the three 30-minute sessions, participants in four-person groups could broaden their knowledge of other people's situation and sometimes even confront stereotypes. The stories told by "human books" made it possible to see that thanks to differences in people's experiences everyday life is more valuable and that the "stranger" can actually be very similar.
– Diversity is a fact, and the only question of choice is how we approach it. We all have the right to be ourselves, to equal treatment and respect – said Przemysław Przybylski, Corporate Communication Office Director at Credit Agricole Bank Polska, during the official opening of the Human Library. – We are the bank that listens attentively. Openness to differences, respect for other attitudes and understanding of various perspectives are values that we appreciate very much and want to promote.
Diversity Day at Credit Agricole Bank Polska is another initiative aimed at developing a culture of openness to diversity in the bank. Since September 2018, the bank has been a signatory of the Charter of Diversity, and since October, a working group has been functioning in the bank, with the aim to develop a diversity policy. The event was also part of the Diversity Week, which for several years has been organised throughout the Crédit Agricole Group.