During my month in Graz I was invited to an reading, conversation and music with Andreas Unterweger, Rose Egbo, Helwig Brunner and Emeka Agba Eleven.
Emeka and Rose are MEGAPHON sellers on the streets of Graz. Their life stories and everyday struggle for living depends of the amount of copies that they manage to sell on the streets.
They both told their life stories to two writers to rise the public awareness of their problems. Some parts of the writings that would be published have been read.

Rose doesn't like to talk about her problems in public. A deep painful shadow stood in that moments into her eyes....

(After the first time met when I met her, I went to find her in her church where she is singing and praying every Sunday.
We spent together a part of that Sunday. Some days after that I found her at her "working place"... This is my short story in pictures about Rose)...and above is the touching article written by Andreas Unterweger published in Megaphone.

Writer: Andreas Unterweger
Translation: Getraud Dayé

Let us talk about what is good. Let us talk about the people who are friendly, who are kind.
Let us not talk about what the man – you thought he was one of the good ones because he
came near, he beckoned you to come over – hissed in your ear. Let us not talk about racists.
Let us talk about what is fine – in your new life, here, in Austria.
Let us talk about the singing, the swimming, about watching soccer games –
let us talk about the flat you share with a friend. Let us talk about the chocolate
you are offered, the cards, the CD, the compliments you get …
let us talk about the books you are reading, the masses you are hearing, your religion …
let us talk about your work here, in Graz.
Let us not talk for too long – you, Rose, prefer to sing anyway.
You are a Megaphon seller who sings and dances. I am sure I have known you by sight.
Did I buy one of the Megaphon copies? I don’t know.
Yes, there are many Megaphon sellers, a great many …but let us not talk about this,
let us rather talk about that, thus, you can earn the rent.
Let us talk about you, Rose: Rose Egbo, born in Benin City, Nigeria in 1981 –
since 2006 living in Austria. Let us talk about your life here, your “new life” –
not about the old one, in Nigeria. And even less about what made you leave your country.
We will not talk about things you do not want to talk about, I promise.
We will no longer talk about things that are past.
Let us rather talk about things that will come: Your job in an office, for instance.
But before: getting a permit of residence.
Before: finishing a language course you pay for yourself.
Let us talk only about this possible scenario of the future, no other one.
“I will NOT go back”, you say – full of faith in God.
Let us talk about hope, not about fear.
Let us talk about what is good: the indoor pool „zur Sonne“; a victory of Arsenal; a Gospel you are singing in the sunshine.
Let us talk about the kind people here, not about what fear is hissing in your ear.
Let us talk about hope, Rose, about your smile.
One has to be strong, one has to keep smiling, you say.
And (to me? to yourself? To both of us?):„Keep on singing“