I looked at the content and it was only later that I discovered that literature in itself is pleasure.

I head a career in what we call development corporation.

I started that in the late sixties and after about five years working and African countries, I got involved in the program where persecuted writers are being given refuge in cities in Germany and Frankfurt was one of the first cities toe set up this program Cities of Refuge, what is called here cities of asylum.

I was involved right from the beginning.

The first organization was called International Parliament of Writers in 2006.

Then we came together and established.

I caught International Cities of Refuge Network.

The idea waas to convince cities, not governments, cities to give refuge to persecuted writers.

Yep, a space for creativity and writing and working which at home in their own countries couldn't do.

I read mostly novels off course I read nonfiction also because of my interest in certain areas of the world, especially southern Africa.

I remember Moroccan poet at one time told me, You Europeans, you are doing everything to kill poetry.

I wanted to prove to him that I was not killing poetry.

So I read poetry and I edited anthologies.

A.

To that time we were God, just 15 cities, and now we're way over 50.

After 10 years, we have made a special effort to recruit new cities.

And the funny thing about being in Pittsburgh is that Henry Reese was there at the founding situation off by corn.

He was doing what we should all be doing that is giving Challenger and encouraging creative, creating space for art in all different forms.

So we worked hard to convince Henry Res off Pittsburgh to become also a member of our International Cities of Refuge network.

My main message is that it is not only that you are doing good for somebody, but that do by having an artist, a writer in your city, you are doing something good for your own city or the people in the city.