Eveline tells her stories everywhere: in schools, in elderly care, at conferences. But she most enjoys standing in front of a class, with a book in her hand or a story to tell. Not to convince people, but to build connections.

A Swallow in the Room

Eveline has now written eleven books. Her most recent book Een zwaluw in de kamer, queer verhalen die je omarmen, is a collection of fictional stories in which gender and sexual diversity are naturally woven in. Twenty short stories that are light-hearted, moving, sometimes cheerful and sometimes painful.

Stories that invite conversation

The colourful and richly illustrated book is part of the read-aloud project ‘Reading Aloud with Love’. Eveline reads aloud in schools herself and has also developed teaching materials that teachers can use immediately. Questions have been created for each story to invite conversation. You can find everything about the read-aloud project and the teaching materials on the website www.eenzwaluwindekamer.nl.

Connecting with what young people experience

What Eveline does particularly well is connect with what young people themselves experience. She deliberately looks for common ground instead of emphasising differences. “We often talk about sexual and gender diversity, but young people switch off if they feel that it is only about ‘the other person’. I want to show them: it is also about you. I ask questions such as: When have you ever felt excluded? Have you ever experienced discrimination?”

The step towards empathy

“Many young people know exactly what it feels like not to be seen. Because of their colour, religion or home situation. A Black boy told us how he is often followed by the security guard in a shop, while his white friend is not. A story like that is about discrimination and prejudice. And then you can take the step towards empathy: what if someone else feels that way too because they are queer?” Because Eveline takes the students’ experiences as her starting point, space is created. Not for a ‘lesson’, but for stories and conversations.

A sensitive subject

Eveline notices how challenging it can still be to talk about sexuality, intimacy, and sexual and gender diversity. This is also the case in vocational education, where she regularly visits classes in healthcare and social welfare programmes. “I see two extremes: on the one hand, students who say, ‘I’m queer, this is about me’; on the other hand, young people who express resistance: ‘I was taught at home that this is wrong.’”

“I then ask: okay, that is what you were taught at home. But how does that relate to your profession? Because soon you will be working with people who live differently from what you are used to. Will you then be able to provide them with the care that suits them?”

She invites students not only to look at society, but also at their own class. “How safe is it to be yourself here?” In this way, Eveline connects students’ personal experiences with their future professional practice—a crucial step towards awareness and a professional attitude.

How do you approach this in the classroom?

Many teachers want to give attention to diversity but are unsure how to do so. Eveline: “I often see hesitation: ‘How do I introduce this without trouble with parents or students?’ My advice is: just do it. Read the story through quietly yourself first. Practise reading aloud. Let the story do the work.”

Resistance? Engage in the conversation!

Sometimes Eveline encounters resistance. According to her, students often repeat words they hear at home. Such as ‘It’s being rammed down our throats’ or ‘I don’t walk around with a straight flag either, do I?’ Eveline is not startled by this. She remains calm and invites them to talk. “I ask them: who doesn’t want to be happy? Who doesn’t want to be able to be themselves? No one raises their hand. Then I say: exactly, that is why we have these conversations.”

Working together towards a safe school

Eveline van de Putte’s stories show how books can connect and move people, and encourage them to think and talk. For teachers, they offer a way to discuss sensitive subjects in an accessible manner. Because, as Eveline says: “What is unknown is unloved. But when you get to know one another, understanding arises. And that is the foundation of a safe school.”

Eveline’s tips for teachers

  • Choose a story that suits your class.
  • Use the accompanying questions on the Een zwaluw in de kamer website.
  • Involve students in the conversation. Ask open questions. Make room for their experiences.
  • See resistance as an opportunity. Not to convince people, but to listen and connect.
  • Deepen your knowledge of the subject and overcome your own shyness.