Global Guestbooks are notebooks that travel the world, and gain entries with each new contributor.
This project is a contribution to rekindling trust in strangers, building bridges, and showing the connectedness of our world. It aims to show that we can be part of something bigger, even with different views.
What is a Global Guestbook?
A Global Guestbook is a notebook that gains entries while travelling the world. The initiator of a Global Guestbook will make the first entry and pass it on to a stranger, who will then create the next entry… And the cycle repeats! The cool thing is that you can see every new entry on Instagram and in the Gallery, along with the route each book has travelled.
How does it work?
After you receive or initiate a Global Guestbook, it’s a simple 3-step process to take part:
1. Write / draw / create
You can be creative – add a drawing, a story from your life, a recommendation for your hometown, a sticker,… whatever comes to your mind!
Write down a funny anecdote from your life. Write about somebody who is important to you, and why. Draw an animal that is local to the place you live at. Draw somebody who is important to you. Write down some recommendations for the place you live at. Write down a short story about a place in your proximity. Write about your interaction with the person who gave you this Global Guestbook. Add a sticker to your page, and write something about it if you want. Write about something you like doing, and about why you do it. Sketch your favorite food and write down a memory connected to it. Write a riddle or puzzle for the next person. Draw a tiny comic of a funny moment you experienced recently. Share a quote that inspires you and explain why it matters to you. Write a small poem that captures your mood today. Write a haiku about something you love. Write about how a “perfect day” would look for you. Draw a self-portrait. Write down your favorite recipe. Write down some of your favorite songs that always make you feel good and why. Write about a lesson you've learnt in life. Draw a simple maze or puzzle for others to solve. Sketch a fantastical creature no one has ever seen before. Write about something that always make your day better. Write about something interesting you learnt recently. Write about a tradition that matters to you. Write about why you participated in this project. Sketch the person who handed you this book.
2. Publish
You can post it yourself on Instagram (please tag @global_guestbook, and mention where you made the entry), or send us your entry through this submission form.
It will then show up in the gallery, and on the @global_guestbook Instagram channel, along with the route your book has travelled.
3. Pass it on
Approach a stranger, give them the notebook, and have a small conversation if you want to. Now, it’s their turn to create something on the next page!
Explore Our Gallery
Browse through moments of connection and unity captured by all of those who created something in a Global Guestbook.
Choose the number of the book you’re interested in:
Who is behind Global Guestbook?
Everybody who creates something in a Global Guestbook plays an important part in shaping the project.
But every project needs an initiator, and for Global Guestbook, that’s Ben Toepel. Ben is a multi-talented designer who is fascinated by seeing the world through the eyes of others.
Ben studied Social Anthropology in Munich before becoming a graphic and web designer. By initiating projects like Global Guestbook, he’s showing his passion for reconnecting the world and building trust—in an effort to put his design skills to good use.
Support the Project
Your support makes this and similar projects possible. Join us in fostering human connection and promoting peace by contributing to Global Guestbook. Together, we can create a lasting impact in reconnecting the world.
You can support the project in the following ways:
- Initiate your own Global Guestbook
You can initiate your own Global Guestbook by filling out the contact form below. Ben will reach out to you with further information. We are also working on a more elegant solution for this. Please stay tuned 🙂 - Spread the word
Let your friends, family, and even enemies know about the project. The more people know about the project, the more impact we can achieve! - Buy Ben a coffee…
… so he can work more on projects like Global Guestbook and Reconnected World, while still paying rent.
Special thanks to:
