Gezicht van de Amstelhoven: Bedel – An Online Exhibition from Bijbels Museum Amsterdam

This online mini-exhibition features Bedel Bayrak, director of Stichting Bonjo, an organization supporting ex-offenders. The exhibition explores Bedel's personal reflections on solidarity, confronting prejudice, and the impact of small gestures of kindness.

The Bijbels Museum presents 'Gezicht van de Amstelhoven: Bedel', an online mini-exhibition that delves into the experiences and perspectives of Bedel Bayrak, the director of Stichting Bonjo. Stichting Bonjo is an advocacy organization dedicated to supporting (ex)detainees and their families through representation, referrals, and practical assistance, also offering a listening ear and practical advice. Bedel Bayrak, who has personal experience with detention, shares his profound belief in solidarity and standing up for others, particularly marginalized groups whose voices are often unheard. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing external factors that can lead people astray, without condoning crime, and highlights the inherent goodness within individuals. This presentation is part of the broader 'Gezichten van de Amstelhoven' series, created in collaboration with and for the people associated with the Corvershof, part of the Amstelhoven in Amsterdam, where the Bijbels Museum is housed. Bedel reflects on how small gestures and conversations can have significant consequences, drawing from his own past experiences where timely advice set him on a positive path. The exhibition, made possible through financial support from the Protestant Diaconie Amsterdam and Stichting Rotterdam, aims to counter negative perceptions and stigmas by focusing on human empathy and shared humanity. The photography for this portrait in the series was done by Mais Shourbaji.