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Michiel Holemans, a resident of Nottingham, recently put up around 20 A4-sized flyers featuring a photo of his roommate’s dog named Aggie, encouraging people to take selfies with the printed image. His goal was to foster a sense of connection within the city by inviting strangers to engage in this lighthearted activity and send him their photos. Inspired by a similar initiative in New York, Michiel described the project as a “silly and fun idea” that helped him feel linked to individuals he might never encounter in person.
Within the first week of posting the flyers, Michiel received nearly 140 emails filled with selfies, far exceeding his expectations. He shared that instead of his usual social media scroll, he constantly checked his inbox for these photos, finding joy in each submission. Michiel also made sure the flyers were attached using a mixture of flour and water, rather than glue, to avoid damaging surfaces or causing contamination. The posters were mainly displayed in areas with a high concentration of students, as he believed they would be the most enthusiastic participants in this whimsical endeavor.
Aggie, the featured dog, is a rescue of unknown breed whom Michiel’s roommate, Elena Meadows, adopted while on vacation in Greece. Elena admitted that when Michiel initially asked her for a picture of Aggie, he did not explain the purpose of the request. “He never really elaborated, he just said does anyone have a stupid picture of their dog, and I was the first to reply,” she said. Elena expressed amazement at how well-known Aggie had become in Nottingham, a place the dog is not originally from. Currently, Aggie is staying in Leicester with Elena’s parents, completely unaware of her new local fame.
Encouraged by the overwhelming positive response to the flyers, Michiel is considering new projects designed to lift the spirits of strangers. He recounted one message from a participant who was having a difficult day filled with anxiety but felt uplifted after seeing the flyer and taking a selfie. “That just made it all worth it for me,” Michiel said, highlighting the emotional impact his small project had beyond what he initially imagined
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