German-African Scholarship Exchange Programme
11th March – 31st March 2010
An Initiative of the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany
in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Civic Education
2009/10
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Greetings from
the Federal President, Dr. Horst Köhler,
for the 3rd exchange
of German and African scholarship holders
issued by the
Federal Agency for Civic Education
The Go Africa – Go Germany exchange of scholarship holders is
taking place for the third time this year. This is a good sign. The intensive discussions which the scholarship holders carry on after the
actual programme has been completed shows that there is a huge
need for more exchanges between young Africans and Germans.
They need to have the opportunity to learn more about each other,
to exchange opinions and to develop common visions. It is only
natural that Africans and Germans should sometimes see things
from different perspectives. It is good to articulate these because
that is the only way we can learn from each other. I am convinced
that young people in Africa have long come to appreciate that we
can only solve the problems facing us in the 21st century together.
Investing in an exchange between our young people is an investment in the partnership between our two continents.
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Greetings from the President of the
Federal Agency for Civic Education,
Thomas Krüger
“Great things happen to those who make them
happen. He deserves it, he worked for it, shine on
Germany, shine on Africa. It is great to have him
back and then long live Partnership with Africa.”
These are the enthusiastic words with which Rodgers Atuhaire* from Uganda commented on Horst
Köhler’s re-election as Federal President, for this
Thomas Krüger
will give the “Partnership with Africa” time to develop. It was only in February and in March that the second group of 25
scholarship holders has been to Tanzania and Uganda with the Go Africa…Go Germany Programme to learn more about political, economic
and sociocultural aspects of life in the countries of Eastern Africa. Having
the opportunity to talk to and debate with each other, but also to argue,
jointly assess technical discussions and presentations and develop common positions lays the foundations for a new dimension to a partnership
between Germany and Africa. There is something very personal and
uniting about partnerships that cannot be developed in a theoretical
manner across large physical distances or from the top down. Just as
with friendship, partnership requires mutual understanding and communication. To this, there are at least three other prerequisites without
which it would not be possible to develop or implement viable partnerships: first of all a common motivation, a unifying element, a goal; secondly, a suitable context that facilitates learning and discussions and
thirdly, the possibility to exchange views and become involved in this
context in the long term.
Go Africa…Go Germany 2009/10 is the third six-week programme for
scholarship holders that was developed in 2006 by the Federal Agency
for Civic Education at the initiative of the Federal President and was delivered for the first time in 2007 as part of the “Partnership with Africa”.
Students and young academics between the ages of 21 and 28 from
Germany and the various countries of the respective African regions are
invited to spend five weeks travelling through Germany and one or two
African countries. In 2007, the journey took them to Namibia and in 2009
to Tanzania and Uganda. Again this time the participants will meet academics, journalists, politicians and media experts, will hear a large number of presentations and will also participate in detailed
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discussions. Those journeys will give the scholarship holders an insight
into the reality of life in the host countries. For almost a year, the participants will also work together on drawing up an academic strategy paper
– a common paper – with the joint objective of intensifying the
“partnership with Africa”, addressing partial aspects of an inspiring partnership and highlighting solution approaches to existing obstacles.
Within the context of Go Africa…Go Germany 2009/10, the educational
journey of the scholarship holders is going at first to Germany in August
2009 (Seeon Monastery, Munich, Berlin, Potsdam, Dabergotz, Cologne,
Monreal and Belgium/EU Brussels). In March 2010, the group will travel
to Ghana and Nigeria in Western Africa and in 2010 to South Africa. In
2012, all of the approximately 100 scholarship holders, who have a
wealth of experience from Germany and from Southern, Eastern or
Western Africa, will start working on a German-African youth education
foundation that is to be set up. This will give concrete and permanent
shape to the idea of partnership in a new sub-area.
*Rodgers Atuhaire belongs to the group of so-called Young Leaders
whom the Federal President has invited to develop new and innovative
ideas for a sustainable “partnership with Africa”.
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About Go Africa...
Go Germany 2009/10
Dr. Katja Böhler, Project manager
Go Africa... Go Germany
on behalf of the bpb
Dr. Katja Böhler
The scholarship holders who participated in the
Go Africa…Go Germany programme in Germany
in August 2009 have taken a comprehensive look
at German history, from Prussia to the present
day, from the first shoots of democracy in the early 19th century to the seasoned democracy in the
whole of Germany since reunification. History but
also the economy and social affairs, issues relating to life in society and youth cultures in Germany, in all their facets and with all the challenges
they present for politicians, have been examined.
One could have, of course, adopted a different approach and begin directly by providing information about and discussing the various development cooperation strategies, integration problems facing African men
and women in Germany, refugees and fair trade and many other issues
which are obviously directly connected with many scholarship holders’
life-real circumstances and, indeed, their everyday lives. Why did we
instead begin by discussing parliamentary democracy and the separation
of powers, the interdependency of politics and the media, religion and
freedom in Germany and current German domestic policy issues – in
other words, issues that appear to have little impact on African scholarship holders, issues that rarely feature in their environment and, if they do,
play a subordinate role. The answer is simple: because it is a matter of
developing – with the encouragement and vigorous support of the President of the Federal Republic – a long-term „partnership with Africa“. In
other words, a sustainable project.
It is important to trace the development of the social market economy in
Germany in order to be able to discuss, also in terms of its practical consequences, the complex approach of an economic system that is largely
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free of state intervention but is not devoid of responsibility for public welfare, which, in case of doubt, as is currently evident, can also be enforced by the state for the benefit of the individual. This is the only way the
general framework for Germany’s foreign and development policy in Africa, for instance, can ultimately be classified, not least when it comes to
assessing Germany’s policy vis-à-vis Europe in the agricultural sector,
which is closely associated with issues in relation to a fair global market
that affects economic life in Africa, in particular.
By coming face to face with players from all important areas of social
and political life, and with decision-makers and people in their everyday
sphere of activity, the scholarship holders, on this basis, have been involved in a permanent discourse that enabled them to experience modern-day Germany in an authentic way. The surveys of scholarship holders conducted at the beginning of the programmes each year show that
this type of approach is important for creating mutual trust and understanding. For the image we have of ourselves does not match the
image people in Africa have of us or what is being taught about Germany
in schools. Surprisingly often – not least for historical reasons – people
expect to meet mainly arrogant, unfriendly and racist people in Germany.
Many assume at the beginning of the programmes that there are insurmountable cultural differences between Germans and Africans and this
is then also reflected in political relations. The fact that, conversely, the
image people in Germany have of Africa is also mainly associated with
negative attributes is no secret on the other side of the Mediterranean
either and in this regard it soon becomes clear that this perception is
rarely called into question in our schools and media.
After visits to Namibia in the South and to Tanzania and Uganda in the
East of the continent, it seems logical to continue the journey to Ghana
and Nigeria in March. There, too, it will not be a matter of rushing from
one development project to another, which is what many scholarship
holders expect at the beginning of the trip. Rather, we will also explore
the foundations of government activity within its historical and political
constraints in Africa and will discuss the influences of internal and external players with experts. Finally, the scholarship holders will compare
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positive and negative aspects with the experiences they have had in
Germany so that a multidimensional perspective of
the various areas and facets of the societies emerges.
We have highlighted the aspect of youth cultures in Germany and West
Africa that has become an integral part of the programme as a theme
scholarship holders will deal with in greater depth and on which they will
present a paper documenting the results of the exchange, on the one
hand as a sign of multinational and multicultural discourse, and on the
other as a joint paper offering action and solution strategies for political
decision-makers. At the same time, the paper is intended to be the third
policy framework paper of the envisaged German-African Youth Education Foundation. The first year’s participants examined the issue of training and education of young people in Germany and southern Africa in
depth. The second group of scholarship holders from Germany and
eastern Africa focused on establishing under what conditions a sustainable and equal partnership between Germany and Africa could be forged in the first place and analysed why the strategies adopted up to now
have mostly failed. It is now a matter of finding out in what direction
youth cultures in Germany and western Africa are developing, what training and education opportunities young people have and how the demographic trend of an ageing society in Germany and the young societies in western Africa, which are unimaginable to us, is affecting politics,
the economy and society. As such, the issue of young people taking on
responsibility and participating in politics will also be discussed and one
fundamental issue is bound to be very exciting, namely what concepts
the various societies have of youth and youth cultures and when youth
ends.
The programmes all boast high-ranking speakers of proven ability in
Germany and West Africa, so that the participants are bound to acquire
a huge amount of knowledge. However, it is not the presentations and
discussions with experts that will be the most important thing the scholarship holders remember in the end but what they have experienced
together, actually managing to overcome the cultural differences that
were thought to be insurmountable and, in doing so, growing closer together. To put it in the words of one of last year’s scholarship holders:
“Africans and Germans have different daily realities but have the same
interests and goals”.
The programme organisers and scholarship holders are firmly convinced
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that having the same interests and goals, singing from the same hymn
sheet, so to speak, is the most important prerequisite for developing a
sustainable and serious partnership between Germany and Africa.
www.bpb.de/goafrica
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Programme in Germany
Sunday, 16 August
Seeon
Arrival of the participants at Seeon Monastery
10:00 am – 02:00 pm
Arrival of the participants at Seeon Abbey
05:00 pm – 06:30 pm Welcome address and introduction of the management team, the programme and the participants
Monday, 17 August
Seeon
German history since the end of the Second World War
until today, 1st study day
09:00 am – 10:30 am 1945-1989: German-German history in the post-war
era until the fall of the Berlin Wall
Prof. Dr. Christoph Kleßmann (em.), Professor of Contemporary History, University of Potsdam, former Head
of the Centre for Contemporary Historical Research
(Zentrum für Zeithistorische Forschung, ZZF)
10:30 am – 11:00 am Coffee break
11:00 am – 12:30 pm 1990-2009: Contemporary German History
Prof. Dr. Manfred Görtemaker, Professor of Modern History (19th/20th century), University of Potsdam
12:30 pm – 02:30 pm Lunch break
02:30 pm – 04:30 pm Germany’s Africa-policy from a historical perspective and its consequences for Africa
Prof. Dr. Rolf Hofmeier, former Director of the Institute
of African Studies, Hamburg
05:00 pm – 06:30 pm Discussion with the lecturers of the day
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Tuesday, 18 August
Seeon
The political system of Germany,
2nd study day
09:00 am – 10:15 am Political currents and parties in Germany. History
and focal points
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Heinrich Oberreuter, Professor of Political Science, University of Passau, Director of the
Academy, Academy for Civic Education, Tutzing
10:15 am – 10:30 am
Coffee break
10:30 am – 11:15 am Parliamentary, Chancellor or media democracy.
The political system of the Federal Republic of Germany
Prof. Dr. Hans Vorländer, Professor of Political Science
(Chair of Political Theory and History of Ideas), Technical University of Dresden
11:15 am – 12:45 pm Workshop I on issues shaping the political system
in Germany
The morning’s lecturers will attend
12:45 pm – 02:00 pm
Lunch break
02:00 pm – 03:00 pm Workshop II on issues shaping the political system
in Germany
The morning’s lecturers will attend
03:00 pm – 03:30 pm
Coffee break
03:30 pm – 05:00 pm Political parties and recent trends in the development of government systems in western Africa
Prof. Dr. Rolf Hofmeier, former Director of the Institute
of African Studies, Hamburg
06:30 pm
Dinner
08:00 pm – 09:30 pm Bafa-Bafa: an intercultural game
Victor Abonyo Oteku,
“Go Africa… Go Germany 2008/09”
scholarship holder
Miriam Shabafrouz,
“Go Africa… Go Germany 2007”
scholarship holder
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Wednesday, 19 August A day in Munich Munich
Bayerischer Rundfunk and Guided Tour
09:00 am
Transfer to Munich
11:45 am – 04:00 pm
Visit of the TV channel Bayerischer Rundfunk and the television production of the
“Mittagsmagazin”
In between
Lunch in the cantine of the TV-channel
Bayerischer Rundfunk
04:30 pm – 07:00 pm
Guided Tour of Munich
Christine Haack, art historian
07:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Evening at participants’ free disposal
10:00 pm
Return to Seeon
Thursday, 20 August
Seeon
Workshop on the common paper
09:00 am – 12:30 pm
Workshop on the common paper, part I
with Miriam Shabafrouz, “Go Africa… Go Germany 2007” scholarship holder
12:30 pm – 02:00 pm
Lunch break
02:00 pm – 05:00 pm
Workshop on the common paper, part II
with Miriam Shabafrouz
06:30 pm
Departure to the Chiemsee
In the evening
Barbecue at the Chiemsee
Monastery church
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Friday, 21 August
Seeon
Current issues in the German society compared to western Africa, 3rd study day
09:00 am – 10:30 am An ageing vs. a young society – challenges in
Germany and western Africa
Prof. Dr. Charlotte Höhn, former Director of the
Federal Institute for Population Research
Dr. Erwin Ebermann, University lecturer, Institute
of African Studies, Vienna/Austria
Facilitator: Josef Hien, “Go Africa... Go Germany
2007”
scholarship holder
10:30 am – 11:00 am Coffee break
11:00 am – 12:30 pm Youth culture and demographic structure in
Germany and western Africa Panel with keynote speaker
Keynote speaker: Dr. Marc Calmbach, Sinus Sociovision GmbH
Panel discussion with the lecturers of the morning
Facilitator: Miriam Shabafrouz, “Go Africa... Go
Germany 2007” scholarship holder
12:30 pm – 02:00 pm Lunch
02:00 pm – 04:30 pm Schooling in Germany - Discussion with teachers
Michael Beer, Gymnasium Bad Aibling,
Konstanze Helmich, Hauptschule an der Dieselstraße, Waldkraiburg,
Claudia Neelsen, Regenbogen-Grundschule,
Berlin-Neukölln
Afterwards
Afternoon and evening at participants’ free disposal
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Saturday, 22 August
Seeon/Dachau
National Socialism in Germany
09:00 am – 10:30 am
National Socialism in Germany 1933 - 1945
Dr. Christian Gudehus, Managing Director of the
Center for interdisciplinary Memory Research,
Institute for Advanced studies in Humanities, Essen
10:45 am
Departure to Dachau
01:00 pm – 02:00 pm
Lunch
02:00 pm – 04:00 pm
Dealing with historical responsibility –
talk and Guided Tour
With a spokesperson of Dachau Concentration
Camp Memorial
04:00pm
Return to Seeon
Former concentration camp Dachau
Sunday, 23 August
Berlin
Berlin—the centre of German politics
09:00 am
Departure for Munich Airport
12:10 pm
Flight to Berlin
02:00 pm – 04:45 pm Guided Tour of Berlin
Konstanze Deeters, tour guide
05:00 pm – 06:30 pm Visit of the German Bundestag and Guided Tour
Reichstag Building Berlin
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Monday, 24 August
Potsdam
Prussia – Relics of Power (1618—1918)
07:30 am
Departure to Potsdam
09:00 am – 12:00
Prussia – Relicts of power –
New Palais and Sanssouci Park
Guided Tour followed by presentation and discussion
Prof. Dr. Manfred Görtemaker, Professor of Modern History (19th/20th century), University of Potsdam
Return to Berlin
12:00
Sanssouci Park, Orangery
Sanssouci Park, Chinese Teahouse
02:00 pm – 04:00 pm Discussion with the Commissioner for Africa
Policy at the Federal Foreign Office and the
Ambassadors of the participant countries
Matthias Mülmenstädt, Ambassador, Commissioner for Africa Policy, Federal Foreign Office,
Berlin
Venue: Federal Foreign Office
04:00 pm
Return to the hotel
06:00 pm – 07:00 pm
Dinner
07:00 pm – 09:00 pm Work on the common paper
with Miriam Shabafrouz, “Go Africa… Go Germany 2007” scholarship holder
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Tuesday, 25 August The economy in Germany and political issues
Berlin
of topical interest
09:00 am – 12:00
12:00 – 01:00 pm
The current economic situation in Germany
Prof. Dr. Henrik Enderlein, Associate Dean and
Professor of Applied Economics, Hertie School of
Governance
Lunch
01:00 pm
Departure for Siemens AG
01:30 pm – 04:00 pm Visit of the Siemens AG
Guided Tour of the company
Discussion with the company’s trainees
04:30 pm – 07:00 pm Afternoon at participants' free disposal
07:00 pm
Meeting point at the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation
07:30 pm – 09:00 pm Current challenges faced by German politicians
Public panel discussion: three MPs in controversial
talks
Dr. Heinrich Kreft, Foreign policy advisor of the
parliamentary group of CDU/CSU
Kerstin Müller, Member of the German Bundestag,
Bündnis90/Die Grünen
Marina Schuster, Member of the German
Bundestag, FDP
Facilitator: Dagmar Dehmer, Journalist of political
issues, Der Tagespiegel
Venue: Heinrich-Böll-Foundation
09:30 pm
Return to the hotel
Parliament buildings Berlin
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Brandenburg Gate
Wednesday, 26 August Visit of the Federal President and
Berlin
Working life in Germany
09:30 am
Departure for Bellevue Palace
11:00 am – 11:30 am
Reception hosted by the Federal President
Dr. Horst Köhler
12:00
Return to the hotel
12:30 pm – 02:00 pm
Lunch
02:00 pm
Individual departure for
afternoon projects
02:30 am – 05:30 pm
An afternoon in the life of …
newspaper editor, radio news editor, Turkish
salesman, policeman, carpenter, civil society
activist, politician, veterinarian, media expert,
public transport employee etc.
05:30 pm – 07:30 pm
Afternoon at participiants’ free disposal
07:30 pm – 09:00 pm
The Federal Government’s policy on Africa –
prospects after the elections
Public panel discussion:
Matthias Mülmenstädt, Ambassador, Commissioner for Africa Policy, Federal Foreign Office
Erich Stather, State Secretary, Federal Ministry
for Economic Cooperation and Development,
Berlin
Dr. Uschi Eid, Member of the German
Bundestag, Former Parliamentarian State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Berlin
Zitto Kabwe, Member of Parliament in Tanzania
(Chadema), Chairperson Parliamentary Commission on Public Investments, Dar es Salaam
Facilitator: Ute Schaeffer, Head of the Editorial
staff “Programmes on Africa and the Middle
East” of the Department “DW-Radio”, Deutsche
Welle, Köln
Venue: Heinrich-Böll-Foundation
Federal President Horst Köhler
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Thursday, 27 August Agriculture in Germany
Dabergotz/Berlin/
Cologne
08:00 am
Departure for Dabergotz
10:30 am – 12:00
Agriculture in Germany – current challenges
Visit to Dabergotzer AGRAR GmbH
(Brandenburg)
Dr. Bernd Pieper, CEO, Dabergotzer
AGRAR GmbH
Return to Berlin
12:00
01:30 pm – 04:30 pm
Afternoon at participants’
free disposal
04:30 pm
Departure to the Airport
06:50 pm
Departure for Cologne
Dabergotz farm
Friday, 28 August
Cologne
Churches and religions in Germany
09:00 am – 10:30 am A mosque for Cologne – Islam in Germany
Rabeya Müller, Centre for Islamic Gender Research and Women Encouragement, Cologne
Rolf Domning, City Superintendent, Association of
Protestant Churches Cologne and Region
Facilitator: Holger Ehmke, Federal Agency for Civic
Education/bpb, Head of the department for civic
educa-tion dealing with young people who have a low
affinity towards politics
10:30 am – 11:00 am Coffee break
Model of a mosque in Cologne
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11:00 am – 01:00 pm Churches and religions in Germany
Rolf Domning, City Superintendent, Association of
Protestant Churches Cologne and Region
Hans Gerd Grevelding, Deacon, Cologne
Archbishopric and chairperson of “CV-Afrika-Hilfe
e.V.”
Facilitator: Thomas Krüger, President of the Federal Agency for Civic Education, Bonn
01:30 pm – 03:00 pm Lunch with the lecturers
03:00 pm – 05:00 pm The interdependence between politics and media
Prof. Dr. Andreas Dörner, Professor of Media Science, Philipps-University Marburg
05:00 pm
Afternoon and evening at participants’ free disposal
Saturday, 29 August Art and culture
Cologne
10:00 am – 01:00 pm The Gothic and Romanesque period in Germany –
Cologne Cathedral and St. Aposteln
Carsten Schmalstieg, art historian, Cologne
01:30 pm – 03:00 pm Lunch
03:00 pm – 04:30 pm Guided Tour of Cologne
Guided Tour of Cologne - background on architecture and the history of ideas in Germany
Carsten Schmalstieg, art historian, Cologne
04:30 pm
Afternoon and evening at participants’ free disposal
Cologne Cathedral
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Sunday, 30 August German World Heritage site
Upper Middle Rhine
Valley
07:00 am – 08:00 am Breakfast
08:00 am
Departure for Monreal
10:00 am – 10:30 am Local government constitution in Germany
Roland Bartsch, Mayor of Monreal
10:30 am – 11:30 am Guided Tour of Monreal including
tour of the castle ruin
Jörg Geisbüsch, tour guide
12:00 – 01:00 pm
Lunch
01:00 pm – 03:00 pm Walking tour around Monreal
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Eltz Castle
03:00 pm
Arrival at Monreal and departure for Eltz Castle
04:00 pm
Guided Tour of Eltz Castle
Dieter Ritzenhofen, former castellan of Eltz Castle
05:30 pm
Departure for Marienthal Monastery Wine Estate
06:30 pm
07:30 pm
Guided Tour of Marienthal Monastery Wine Estate
Dinner at the monastery wine estate
After dinner
Return to Cologne
Monday, 31 August Challenges faced by Germany in Europe
Brussels
07:44 am – 10:01 am Train journey from Cologne Central Railway Station
to Brussels South (Midi)
10:15 am
Transfer
11:00 am – 12:30 pm Germany’s role in Europe
Prof. Dr. Beate Neuss, Professor
of Political Science, Chair of
International Politics,
Chemnitz University of Technology
Venue: to be confirmed
12:30 am – 02:00 pm Lunch
02:00 pm – 02:30 pm Transfer to the European Parliament
03:00 pm – 03:30 pm Input on EU’s trade relations
Corinna Braun-Munzinger, “Go Africa... Go Germany 2009/10” scholarship holder
Venue: European Parliament
03:30 pm – 04:30 pm The European Union.
Current developments
Rainer Wieland, Member of the European Parliament, CDU
04:30 pm – 06:00 pm City Tour of Brussels
06:59 pm – 09:15 pm Return to Cologne
Atomium Brussels
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Tuesday, 1 September
Cologne
Evaluation and preview of Ghana and Nigeria
09:00 am – 11:00 am
Work on the common paper
with Miriam Shabafrouz, “Go Africa… Go Germany 2007” scholarship holder
11:30 pm – 01:00 pm
Lunch
01:00 pm
Departure to the social project Jugendhaus
“Treffer”
Visit to the social project Jugendhaus
“Treffer”
and discussion
Return to the hotel
01:30 pm – 04:00 pm
04:00 pm – 05:00 pm
05:00 pm – 06:30 pm
Evaluation of the programme with slide
show and presentation of the programme
in Ghana and Nigeria
From 08:00 pm
Farewell club evening
Wednesday, 2 September Field study in Germany
Cologne
10:00 am – 12:00
Work on the common paper
with Miriam Shabafrouz, “Go Africa… Go Germany 2007” scholarship holder
12:30 am – 02:00 pm
Lunch
02:00 pm
Afternoon and evening at participants’ free
disposal
Go Africa ...
Go Germany ...
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Thursday, 3 September
Frankfurt
Departure
Scholarship holders in Opuwo/Namibia 2007
www.bpb.de
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Programme in Africa
Ghana
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Thursday, 11 March
Accra,Ghana
Arrival in Accra, Ghana
04:05 pm
Arrival of the participants in Accra
07:00 pm
Dinner at the Novotel
07:30 pm - 09:00 pm
Welcome and distribution of roles and tasks
and report on latest working results
Friday, 12 March 2010 Visit of the President and Kofi Annan InternaAccra
tional Peacekeeping Training Centre
09:00 am - 10:30 am
Reception hosted by his Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills
Venue: Osu Castle
11:00 am - 04:00 pm
Visit to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC)
Lunch at KAIPTC
12:00 - 01:00 pm
01:00 pm - 03:00 pm
03:00 pm
05:45 pm
06:30 pm - 08:30 pm
Peace building and Security in West Africa:
The role of Ghana and Nigeria
Professional discussion with Dr. Linda Darkwa,
Legon Center for International Affairs (LECIA),
University of Ghana and
Dr. Kwesi Anning, Head of Research Department
of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping
Training Centre (KAIPTC)
Venue: KAIPTC
Return to Novotel and time at participants free
disposal
Departure to the residence of German Ambassador
Reception hosted by the German Ambassador
Dr. Marius Haas, Ambassdor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Venue: Residence of the German Ambassador
www.bpb.de
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Saturday, 13 March 2010 1st study day: History and
Accra
the influence of foreign rule in Ghana
08:30 am - 12:30 am
Guided Tour of Accra and Nima
12:30 am
Lunch at Novotel
02:00 pm - 04:00 pm
History of West Africa: Special focus on
Ghana and Nigeria
Lecture and discussion with Prof. Robert AddoFening, Faculty of History, University of Ghana
Venue: Novotel
04:00 pm - 04:30 pm
Coffee break
04:30 pm - 06:00 pm
The influence of foreign rule for the development of an independent state
Lecture and discussion with
Dr. Raymond A. Atuguba,
Faculty of Law, University
of Ghana
Venue: Novotel
Dinner at Novotel
Time at participants free
disposal
06:00 pm
07:00 pm
Independent Arch, Accra
Sunday, 14 March 2010 2nd study day: Electricity and Economy in
Accra
Ghana
09:00 am - 12:30 am
12:30 am - 02:00 pm
02:00 pm
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Visit of the dam in Akosombo
Guided Tour of the dam
Lunch at Akosombo Continental Hotel
Departure to Accra via Dan Beaded Handicraft
05:00 pm - 06:30
Economy in Ghana
Lecture and discussion with Mrs. Sarah Akuoni,
Faculty of Economics of Universtiy of Ghana
Venue: Novotel
06:30 pm
Dinner at Novotel
07:30 pm
Time at participants free disposal
Monday, 15 March 2010
Accra
3rd study day: Politics, rule of law and freedom of the press in Ghana
09:00 am to 10:30 am
The political system, democracy and the pluralistic party system: Ghana model of success?
Lecture and discussion with Prof. Gyimah Bondi,
Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic
Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana)
Venue: Novotel
Supreme Court, Accra
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Coffee break
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Talk with politicans on democracy, rule of law
and freedom of the press
Questions and Answers with representatives
from the National Democratic Congress (NDC),
the New Patriotic Party (NPP),
the Convention People's Party (CPP) and the
People's National Convention (PNC)
Venue: Novotel
Lunch at Novotel
12.30 pm - 02:00 pm
07:00 pm - 08:30 pm
Drapery seller, Tamale
Women in West Africa
Professional discussion with
Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy, Research Fellow at
the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana,
Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Director of the
Institute of African Studies,
Sheila Minka-Premo, Legal Consultant at Apex
Lawconsult, Member of the Ghana branch of the
International Federation of Women Lawyers
(FIDA)
Venue: Novotel in Accra
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Tuesday, 16 March 2010 The Heritage of slavery
Accra/Cape Coast/Elmina
07:00 am
Departure to Cape Coast
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
The heritage of slavery
Lecture and discussion with
Dr. Akosua Adoma Perbi,
Head of the History Department, University of
Ghana
Venue: Cape Coast Castle
12:30 pm - 01:30 pm
Guided Tour of
Cape Coast Castle
Depature to Elmina
Lunch at the Coconut
Grove Bridge House
City Tour of Elmina
Dinner at Coconut Grove
Hotel
Time at participants free
disposal
01:30 pm
02:00 pm - 03:30 pm
03:30 pm
07:00 pm
08:00 pm
Cape Coast Castle
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 Education and vocational training
Elmina
in Ghana
09:00 am
Departure to Takoradi
10:30 am
01:00 pm
02:30 pm
04:00 pm - 05:30 pm
Classroom in an Vocational
Training Centre
06:00 pm
07:00 pm
- 28 -
Visit of the professional school for traders and talk about vocational training
in Ghana
Lunch in Takoradi
Departure to Elmina
Education in Ghana
Professional discussion with
Prof. Amedahe, Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Cape Coast and
Mrs. Mettle-Nunoo, Teacher and Administrative Assistant, Sunbeam International Academy, Accra
Venue: Coconut Grove Hotel
Dinner
Time at participants free disposal
Elmina
Thursday, 18 March 2010 The rainforest and the ecological system
Elmina/Kakum-National of Ghana
Parc/Obuasi
08:30 am
Departure to Kakum National Parc
09:30 am - 11.00 am
Canopy Walkway or Nature Walk
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
The ecological system of Ghana
Lecture and discussion with
Prof. Chris Gordon, Volta Basin Research
Project (VBRP), University of Ghana
Venue: Kakum National Park
Departure to Hans Cottage Botel
Lunch at Hans Cottage Botel
Departure to Obuasi
Dinner at Anyinam Lodge
Work on the common paper
Venue: Anyinam Lodge
12:30 pm
01:00 pm
02:00 pm
07:00 pm
08:00 pm
Kakum National Parc
Canopy Walkway
- 29 -
Friday, 19 March 2010
Obuasi/Kumasi
Resources in Ghana and the Stock
echange
08:30 am
Departure to Obuasi gold mine
09:00 am
01:15 pm - 02:30 pm
02:30 pm
Visit of Anglogold Ashanti Limited
Obuasi Mine
Lunch at Anyinam Lodge
Departure to Kumasi
06:00 pm
Dinner at Noda Hotel
07:30 pm - 09:00 pm
The Stock exchange and the impact of the
World Financial Crisis on Ghana
Lecture and discussion with
Mr. Ekow Afedzie, deputy managing Director
of the Ghana Stock Exchange
Venue: Noda Hotel
Saturday, 20 March 2010 Traditional arts
Kumasi
09:00 am
Industrial art and trade conditions
Separation of the group:
first group to the weavers in Adangomase,
second group to the dyers in Ntonse,
third group to the carvers in Ahwiaa,
fourth group to the potters in Pankrono
01:30 pm
Lunch at Noda Hotel
03:00 pm
Work on the common paper
Venue: Noda Hotel
07:00 pm
08:00 pm
Dinner at Noda Hotel
Time at participants free disposal
Craftspeople Kumasi
- 30 -
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Kumasi/Lake Bosumtwi
09:30 am - 04:00 pm
Traditional Authorities and traditional life
in Kumasi and surroundings
Adae Festival at the Manhyia Palace
Lunch delivered from Noda Hotel to Manhyia
Palace
04:00 pm
Departure to Lake Bosumtwi
07:00 pm
Dinner at Lake Bosumtwi Paradise Resort
08:00 pm
Bonfire at the lake
Lake Bosumtwi
Manhyia Palace Museum, Kumasi
Monday, 22 March 2010
Accra
4th study day:
Agriculture in Ghana
07:00 am
Departure to Accra
01:00 pm
Lunch at Fotobi Cooperative Pineapple growers and Marketing Society in Nsawam
02:00 pm
Visit of Fotobi Cooperative Pineapple growers
and Marketing Society in Nsawam
04:00 pm
07:00 pm
08:00 pm
Departure to Accra
Dinner at Novotel
Time at participants free disposal
- 31 -
Nigeria
- 32 -
Tuesday, 23 March 2010 Exploring Lagos
Accra,Ghana
Lagos,Nigeria
07:50 am - 09:55 am
Flight to Lagos (Virgin Nigeria)
12:30 pm - 01:00 pm
Check in Hotel Planet One, Maryland, Ikeja
01:00 am - 03:00 pm
Lunch at the hotel
03:00 pm - 06:00 pm
City Tour of Lagos
Lagoon of Lagos
City of Lagos
06:30 pm - 08:00 pm
Dinner with the German Consul General
Walter L. von den Driesch,
Consul General of the Federal Republic of
Germany
Venue: Hotel Planet One, Maryland, Ikeja
08:00 pm
The Crown Troupe of Africa
Performance an discussion with the group
members about youth culture and art in Nigeria
Venue: Hotel Planet One, Maryland, Ikeja
Wednesday, 24 March 5th study day:
Lagos
Mega-City Lagos and Nollywood
in Nigeria
09:00 am - 11:00 am
Demographics and its implications on public
service delivery in a mega-city
Input and discussion with
Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Managing Director, Lagos
Metropolitan Area Transport Authority,
Dr. Muiz Banire, Commissioner, Lagos State
Ministry of the Environment, and
Chief Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo, Lagos Millennium
Group on the Environment
Facilitator: Mrs. Sola Kosoko, Lagos Television
Venue: Hotel Planet One, Maryland, Ikeja
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Coffee break
- 33 -
11:30 am - 01:00 pm
Petrodollars in the development of Nigeria and the challenges of the Niger-delta
region
Input and discussion with
Sam Olukoya, Journalist, Inter Press Service
Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, Centre for Advanced Social Science, and
Dr. (Mrs.) Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, Presidential Implementation Committee of Amnesty for Niger Delta Militants
Facilitator: Dr Charles Ukeje, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Venue: Hotel Planet One, Maryland, Ikeja
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm
02:00 pm - 05:30 pm
Lunch at the hotel
An exploration on the set of a
Nollywood movie
Conversation with the cast and crew of the
movie
07:30 pm
Dinner with Nigeria's creative industries
and discussion on the role of Nollywood/
creative industries for Nigeria
with Okechukwu Ogunjiofor, Movie Director/
Producer, Yinka Davies, Musician, Lillian
Amah-Aluko, Actress, Oliver Enwonwu,
Sculptor, and Sunny Nneji, Musician
Facilitator: Akin Adesola, The Newton ProNollywood ject Room
Venue: Hotel Planet One, Maryland, Ikeja
Thursday, 25 March 2010 Tour of Lagos and Flight to Kano
Lagos/Kano
09:00 am
Transfer to the airport
12:20 pm - 02:40 pm
04:00 pm
04:00 pm - 07:00 pm
Flight to Kano
Check into Green Palace Hotel, Kano
Visit to Almajirai centres and street beggar rehabilitation project in Nassarawa
Local Government Area
Facilitated by TUCCAN Foundation
- 34
Kano
07:30 pm - 09:00 pm
09:00 pm
Dinner
Common paper
Friday, 26 March 2010
Kano
09:00 am - 12:00
The North of Nigeria and the impact of
climate change
Guided tour of Old Kano and the craft
market
Lunch
12:00 - 02:00 pm
02:00 pm - 03:30 am
Hausa House, Kano
04:00 pm - 05:30 pm
The role of Nigeria and Ghana in Africa
(NEPAD and ECOWAS)
Debate and discussion with
Dr. Fred Aja Agwu, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs,
Ayodele Aderinwale, Director of the ALF and
Representative of the Ghana High Commission
Facilitator: Thompson Ayodele, Director, Initiative for Public Policy Analysis
Venue: Green Palace Hotel, Kano
Climate change impacts in Nigeria and
adaptation – Case in point: Desertification
in Northern Nigeria
Discussion with experts
Professor Kabiru Ahmed, Bayero University
Venue: Green Palace Hotel, Kano
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Kano/Kaduna/Abuja
08:00 pm
Departure by bus to Abuja via Kaduna
12:00 - 02:00 pm
05:00 pm
07:00 pm
Lunch in Kaduna
Check into Protea Hotel, Abuja
Reception
hosted by the German Ambassador
Joachim Schmillen, Ambassador of the Federal
Republic of Germany
Venue: Residence of the German Ambassador, Abuja
- 35 -
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Abuja
09:30 am - 06:00 pm
12:30 pm - 02:30 pm
07:00 pm
Exploring the Capital of Nigeria
Tour in and around Abuja and
visit of Zuma Rock - Abuja historic landmark
Lunch at a restaurant
Reception at the Presidents office
(to be confirmed)
Zuma rock, Abuja
Monday, 29 March 2010
Abuja
09:00 am - 11:00 am
Christian Church, Lagos
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
National Mosque, Abuja
- 36 -
6th Study day:
Politics and challenges in Nigeria
The role of religion and the diversity of
persuasions in West Africa
Professional discussion with
Reverend Father Matthew Hassan Kukah,
Vicar General, Archdiocese of Kaduna,
Prof. Is-haq Olarewaju Oloyede, Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin and
Pastor Tunde Bakare, The Latter Rain Assembly
Facilitator: Hajiya Binta Abdulrahim, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria
Venue: Protea Hotel, Abuja
Politics in Nigeria and the Nigerian federalism
Lecture and discussion with
Professor J. Isawa Elaigwu, Institute of Governance and Social Research, Jos
Venue: Protea Hotel, Abuja
01:00 pm - 03:00 pm
03:00 pm - 05:00 pm
05:00 pm - 07:00 pm
07:30 pm
Lunch with journalists and talks about current political challenges in Nigeria
Venue: Protea Hotel, Abuja
Time at participant's free disposal
Current challenges in Nigerian politics
Professional discussion with
Professor Attahiru Jega,
Vice Chancellor, Bayero University Kano,
Hon Nnenna Ukeje,
Member, Federal House of Representatives,
and Dr. Kayode Fayemi,
Former AC, Governorship Candidate Ekiti State
Facilitator: Funke Egbemode,
The Sun Newspapers
Venue: Protea Hotel, Abuja
Farewell-party
Tuesday, 30 March 2010 Power supply in Nigeria and its impact on
Abuja
development
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Power Generation: Critical success factor
for Nigeria’s development
11.30 am - 12.30 pm
12:30 pm - 06:00 pm
06:00 pm
10:30 pm
Lecture and discussion
with Eluma Obibuaku,
Senior Director - Project
Development, Geometric
Power Ltd. Representing,
Professor Bart Nnaji,
Geometric Power Ltd.
Venue: Protea Hotel, Abuja Power supply, Lagos
Evaluation
Time at participant's free disposal
Transfer to airport for the German participants
Return of the German participants
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
whole day
Return of the African participants
subject to alterations
- 37 -
- 38 -
A Common Paper
By Miriam Shabafrouz, Germany
Scholarship holder 2007
As every year, the scholarship holders are asked
to draw up a common paper which will be presented to decision-makers after the project’s completion in 2010. The innovation of these strategy
papers is that they do not elaborate on how Germany could help African countries, but that they focus on challenges affecting both parts of the world and discuss if and how they could be met
through joint efforts. The topics dealt with are considered relevant for
building up a long-lasting and sincere partnership between Africa and
Germany. Starting with an analysis of the current situation in Germany
and Sub-Saharan Africa, the participants identify issues which can be a
starting point for joint political action and deduce proposals on how specific problems could be tackled within the framework of a GermanAfrican partnership. Many discussions in intercontinental groups, continuing communication via e-mail, individual research and the possibilities to ask experts and office-holders during our two journeys give the
paper a solid base.
The focus this year is laid on the “Challenges and opportunities of the
young generation in Germany and West-Africa”, elaborating on the possibilities of a German-African youth policy to address identified challenges in both parts of the world. The teamwork was already started during the German part of the programme, went on through electronic communication and will be finalised in Ghana and Nigeria.
Last year, the scholarship holders discussed the question how to develop a true German-African partnership in addressing selected issues of
international and domestic policy-making. In 2007, the paper dealt with
Educational Policy in Germany and Southern Africa.
This common paper will be a visible output of the exchange and one of
the elements contributing to the development of an African-German network of scholars, academics and young professionals.
- 39 -
Go Africa...Go Germany...:
Opportunities for the Future
by Linda Bore, Kenia
Scholarship holder 2008/2009
The Go Africa... Go Germany program was initiated
by the Federal President of the Republic of Germany, Horst Kohler, as part of his partnership for
Africa. He had a vision to see young students and
academics in diverse fields such as political science, social sciences, law
and business from Germany and Africa; form a meaningful, long-term
partnership. To ensure the formation and implementation of such a partnership, the young individuals who go through the program are expected
to become multiplicators in their countries and networks and thus drive
its course. Towards this, President Kohler has stressed regarding the
program: “Investing in an exchange between our young people is an investment in the partnership between our two continents.”
The German Federal Agency for Civic Education took up the challenge
to develop the program’s curriculum and ensure that President Kohler’s
vision culminated in a tangible exchange program. Through interaction,
dialogue and a chance to share diverse country and life experiences, the
young academics meet, first in Germany and later either East, West or
South Africa over a total period of five intensive weeks. Starting in 2007
the program has seen the successful completion of 2 exchanges between German students and students from Southern Africa and East
Africa. The third exchange with West Africa is currently underway, with
the second part of the programme taking place in March 2010. Plans to
organise a fourth exchange, to take place in the latter half of 2010, between students from Germany and Southern Africa are ongoing. Each
exchange involves 12 students from Germany and 12 from Africa, making a total of 24. From the four exchange programs, it is thus expected
that at a minimum 96 young person’s will be impacted.
Given this rich background, what steps have been and continue to be
made towards forming the envisaged partnership?
As a 2nd generation participant in the programme, I had the opportunity in
2008 of travelling to Germany for the first time with 11 other students
- 40 -
from East Africa. During the programme, I had the chance to
learn about the political, economic and socio-cultural aspects of
German life. Through lectures, discussion groups, field trips and
even free time; the entire experience for me involved lots of
learning and exchange with my fellow participants. The personal
exchange especially enabled me understand more about young
people in Germany and their approach towards life, work and
their future. Admittedly, on both sides, the German and African,
there were a number of stereotypes that were discussed and
debunked.
With such a start, there was even greater enthusiasm for the second part
of the program which took us to Tanzania and Uganda. For many German participants, this was their first time in East Africa and a great opportunity to understand different facets of social, political and cultural
issues within the African context. During the programme, the participants
also worked on a paper together over a nine month period, which was
eventually handed over to political decision makers and opinion leaders.
In 2007, the common paper focussed on education, while in 2008, the
scholarship holders focussed on how to establish a partnership with Africa. In 2009, the Paper this time is on Youth Culture in Germany and
Africa. With input from 24 people, working together for almost a year, the
views exchanged are diverse and add to the richness of the paper.
The programme beyond its formal scope also triggered something on the
personal level; a greater interest in either Germany or Africa and personal friendships. People who previously may not have had the opportunity to cross each other’s paths, have established bonds that enable networking across the divide to continue. This in itself has taken its own
dynamics in a variety of spheres; many participants have since undertaken internships in Africa or gone to Germany to continue their studies.
Others have been motivated to engage professionally on issues that
were discussed during the programme. While others yet, have used the
contacts gained from the programme to pursue new opportunities and
continue learning and researching.
Upon the completion of the second part of the programme, the overwhelming feedback from many if not all participants was that the cooperation and lines of communication between the participants, not only
from our generation but all the generations had to be kept open. But how
were the participants to do this? A brainstorming session between the
- 41 -
organisers and the scholarship holders at the end of the programme provided a number of avenues and suggestions for future cooperation.
One idea that was put forward was the establishment of a partnership
between the Go Africa alumni and a village which second generation
participants had visited, known as Lukodi. The visit to Lukodi was an
emotional as well as eye opening experience for the participants. Lukodi
consists of five villages whose inhabitants were all severely affected by
the conflict in Northern Uganda between Joseph Kony and his Lord’s
Resistance Army on the one hand and the Ugandan government on the
other. The conflict which raged for more than 20 years in Northern
Uganda not only had a human toll in terms of those who lost their lives
but also affected the livelihoods of thousands of others who were rendered homeless and placed in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)
camps. Men, women and children were abducted and forced to participate in the war, many bear not only the physical scars but also emotional
wounds of their experience. Children who participated as soldiers, or
were married off as wives, have to now find a way to pick up the pieces
and continue with their lives. Entire communities are now grappling with
weighty issues such as reconciliation and providing for their families.
Lukodi is one such IDP camp which was meant to be a temporary home
for many affected by the conflict. But years later, not all the inhabitants
have been able to leave and return to their homes or re-integrate into
their communities. As such there are still a significant number of families
and individuals who have remained in Lukodi. Upon visiting the village in
March 2009, and hearing of the people’s experiences, many of the participants felt that we as a group should help the village in some way.
Lukodi, Uganda
IDP in Lukodi, Uganda
With support from the bpb organisers, efforts are now being made to
translate this motivation into a tangible coordinated means within which
to channel assistance to the village. The initial idea was to raise financial
support; many expressed an interest towards this and a small contribution was made. It was however recognised that larger and frequent
- 42 -
means of financial support is required. It is with this starting
point, that the next step in finding a means through which the
financial support can be raised, collected, administered and
transferred in a meaningful way was discussed. The idea of
forming a registered association in Germany appeared to be the
best solution. Two simultaneous processes have since been
underway in the past year which are to be completed in the near
future. The first involves the preparations for registering the association in Germany. Once established, the process of registering members and collecting funds will begin. This process is expected to co-opt
the active participation and involvement of Go Africa participants and
alumni.
The second process that is underway, involves establishing contacts in
Gulu and Lukodi that the association will partner with. One reliable partner that has been identified is Caritas Gulu, with the organisation also
expressing an interest in cooperating with the soon to be formed Association. Two Go Africa participants have so far also made follow-up visits
to Lukodi and a community meeting was held to identify the needs of the
people and realistic ways in which to assist. One of the primary needs
identified was education and secondly assisting in sustainable means of
income generation; through for example, supporting agriculture. Lukodi
is expected to be a long term project and there is room for members of
the Association to generate new ideas and projects through which assistance can be provided sustainably.
Another idea that the participants discussed, dealt with communication
and information sharing across all generations of past and present scholarship holders. The bpb was challenged to set-up a web presence for the
group, through which news, updates and items of interest could be
shared. Since then, an alumni homepage (htttp://www.bpb.de/goafrica)
has been established for this purpose. This platform has allowed intergenerational exchange and networking to occur and further extend the
profile of the Go Africa...Go Germany programme to the public. Further
to this, the idea of a newsletter also came to fruit. This newsletter, published on a monthly basis, contains recent news and opportunities, interesting articles, opinion pieces, interviews of individuals involved in issues
of interest to Africa or Germany, and profiles of past scholarship holder,
highlighting their interests, opinions and current positions. The newsletter, known as Joint MAG, was started in October 2008 with two alumni
members as co-editors and four assisting editors who are also alumni.
- 43 -
Each Joint MAG edition is based on a theme, which so far has ranged
from key figures of regional integration in Africa and Europe, to Human
Rights, culture, arts and society, and energy and climate change. Recent
occurrences have also been featured, such as the German federal elections held in September 2009, and a brief analysis on the possible impact this may have on German-African relations, following a change in
the coalition partners. With such a promising start, indeed the magazine
can only get bigger and better and impact an even wider audience with
the Go Africa... Go Germany voice! As Linda and Dennis, the co-editors
have said: “A joint production of African and German contributors, is also
a hint of what a true partnership could be about.”
Thirdly the bpb has invested a lot of efforts in ensuring that the Go Africa... Go Germany programme develops into an association. The first
step towards this was put in motion following a meeting in Berlin, Germany in October 2009, where past scholarship holders and members of
the organising team were appointed as office bearers. The purpose of
the association is to give the alumni a platform through which common
goals and interests can be pursued, for the benefit of German-African
cooperation amongst various target groups. Of course having an association also provides the necessary legal personality that would enable
the implementation of specific projects and civic education activities and
the acquisition of the requisite funding to pursue those activities. Though
ambitious, it is hoped that the association will pave the way for the establishment of a German-African youth foundation for civic education, hopefully in 2012.
Despite all these positive developments in keeping the President’s vision
alive and building a unified association, a few challenges remain. First,
the ability to network especially across different generations. Thanks to
the internet, much of the networking by alumni has so far occurred
through email, skype, google and yahoo groups and on social networking sites such as facebook and twitter. So far, however the chance for all
past scholarship holders to meet together in one central location has not
occurred. A major inhibitor to this has not only been time and the need of
careful calendar coordination for all involved but also the massive cost
implications of organising a meeting of nearly 100 people.
- 44 -
Significant steps towards making a meeting of this sort a reality
has however been made. In June 2010 for the first time a networking meeting has been planned in Germany involving all past
scholarship holders who are available to attend. The value of
such a meeting cannot be underscored; the chance for Go African inter-generational discourse as well as the opportunity to
review activities that are underway and those that are planned
will give the Go Africa Association impetus and drive to move
things forward.
What must however be reiterated is that to ensure Horst Köhler’s vision
does not come to naught, the efforts and time of each scholarship holder
will need to be invested, to ensure that the German African partnership
will not only impact the lives of past scholarship holders, but will begin a
drive to impact like minded youth both in Germany and Africa. As individuals, we are already multiplicators of this partnership
- 45 -
THIS IS NOT A TRAVEL REPORT!
An attempt to reconstruct goals and evaluate
action of Go Africa... Go Germany…
By Josef Hien, Germany
Scholarship holder 2007
When I was asked to write a short comment entitled
“goals and evaluation of the programme”, I first
thought that this would be no big deal. Just dropping a few superlatives,
together with some examples on how great and multifaceted the network
developed till now, peppered with funny anecdotes from the trip to Namibia should do the job. Though, the longer I thought about the term
“goals of the programme” the more I got confused. Sure, we all share
some kind of common notion that the programme was set into place in
order to promote a partnership between Germany and Africa, by bringing
together young scholars from both continents. But what does this notion
actually mean, where does it come from, and how did it develop over the
past three years?
To analyze the goals of the project means also to analyze the
identity of Go Africa... Go Germany... This identity is not static but instead evolved over time. To assume that goals and identity would be
today the same as they had been three years ago, would not only be
naive but even worse: it would be evidence that Go Africa... Go Germany... had fallen into a zombie-like sclerosis. Luckily this is not the
case. The programme is vital and alive. Nevertheless, any “true” evaluation of Go Africa... Go Germany... has to take these dynamic developments into account. This entails also that the identity of the project is not
only constructed through the perceptions of the participants alone, but
also reflects the combined ideas and actions of the programme directors
and sponsors on the official side. Not only for us, the participants, have
the goals evolved over time, but also for the official programme promoters. Was the main objective at the beginning still the rather malleable
goal of diminishing prejudices, so has it now after three years evolved
into the clear cut aim of institutionalizing a German–African Foundation
for Youth Education. To explain how it came to this will be one of the
tasks of this contribution. This will be done by tracing back in time the
evolution of the three main components of the Go Africa... Go Germany... programme. First, I will give an account of how the programme
goals on the official side developed, then how those of the programme
- 46 -
participants have changed over time, and in the end I will evaluate how
this is all reflected in the different communication tools that have been
developed over the past three years.
What follows will be an attempt to come closer to a proper evaluation. Nevertheless, I hope to provide an account of “where we stand
now” and “how we got there”. I will mainly rely on the available official
documentation of the program, on interviews and informal talks with the
Go Africa... Go Germany... officials, and on my own experiences gathered during the past years in the network. I will close with an analysis of
how much has so far been achieved and what remains still to be done.
SHIFTING GOALS
On the official level of the programme promoters one has to recall that the project first had been launched to fight the high level of
prejudices that earlier projects of the Bundeszentrale had detected between Africans and Germans. Go Africa... Go Germany... was designed
to diminish these prejudices by bringing together people from both continents. This initial programme goal was immediately upgraded after the
experiences with the first group. Now, it was not the diminishing of prejudices that was the main goal, but rather the creation of an enduring network between the scholarship holders that should persist long beyond
the formal point of programme determination. The network evolved surprisingly quick and has become ever more institutionalized over the past
years. An indicator for this is the strongly increasing number of network
tools that this process spilled off. These are the components of the programme that developed openly and visible for everybody.
What I turn now to is the part of the programme that was promoted “behind the scenes”. So far these programme goals remained
rather invisible as they are hardly mentioned in the official programme
documentation and it seems that only very few insiders were updated on
their development during the past three years. In fact, the first detailed
official statement about them was released only recently by printing a
speech in the Joint MAG that Katja Böhler (project manager) delivered to
the Federal President Horst Köhler during a workshop in Bellevue in November 2009. Even though I am a member of the first generation
Go Africa... Go Germany... and therefore have been part of the
programme for three years I was not entirely aware that the major
institutional push was aiming in the direction that Katja envisaged
in her speech. One could now accuse our project managers of
intransparancy, but that would go beyond the point. Keeping the
development of aims and goals opaque was the result of strategic
reasoning on behalf of the programme managers rather then due
- 47 -
to an intransparency fetish. It simply would not
have been clever to announce clear-cut institutional goals before the political partners were
convinced and on board.
Nevertheless, a clear cut institutional blueprint
for the further institutional development of Go
Africa... Go Germany... does now exist.
Whether, and how much of it will be realized
will be a function of the political process jet to
come. Though, for this programme evaluation it is now at the time to unveil how it came to the idea of setting up a German – African Foundation
for Youth Education as envisaged in Katja Böhler’s speech. Creating a
foundation was not a goal from the very beginning. Instead, the different
players on the official side, programme coordinators and sponsors, had
quite diverging views on how the programme should develop in the future. Over the past three years there evolved a constant dialogue between the Federal President, the President of the bpb and the programme directors. At the beginning, some of the more powerful political
actors were still quite fixed on the idea of creating a pan–European African pupil exchange programme. The problem with such an initiative was
simply that the coordination problems on the European level would have
been almost insurmountable. It would therefore probably have taken
decades till such a project would have, if ever, been established. Furthermore, it would have been also likely that the big players in the field of
African politics such as the two former major colonial powers France and
Britain would have dominated such a pan European approach. Sending
off people for one or two weeks only, as this is usually the format of an
pupil exchange programmes as for example between France and Germany, is also not generating a sustainable and long lasting network. To
make a true partnership between Africa and Germany work, one needs
projects that are much more targeted on long-term sustainability. For the
given reasons, the final institutional goal of creating a foundation for
youth education beat the other ideas on the table and evolved parallel to
the network idea during the past three years. The major advantage of the
foundation is that it would have the legal position of a “Bundesstiftung”.
This “foundation” guarantees long-term secure funding and planning reliability, and it is the only way to sustain and integrate the multilayered
components that are needed for a true partnership. The urgent necessity
for such a foundation stems also from the fact that the bpb cannot eternally guarantee the funding of the project, as its capacities are already
over-stretched concerning Go Africa... Go Germany... How fast the foundation will materialize depends on the political process. Whether the
- 48 -
proposal will be able to make its way without suffering severe downsizing
through the different fallacies of the German political system remains to
be seen. Success is here a quite complex function of different personal
and party interests in the various departments involved. My pledge is
here that the project will not be abandoned due to opportunistic party
interests that so often seem to jam the institutional machinery of the German political system. The overarching aim of the programme is just too
important, too much is at stake and too much would be lost of what has
been accumulated through all the efforts of the past three years. What
gives hope once again is that the German Federal President in his unpartisan political position has expressed his enthusiasm and thorough
support for the programme.
If all goes well, Go Africa... Go Germany... will be put on a sound
legal and financial basis that allows for long-term sustainability of the
programme. Though, if you ask me this is very unlikely to happen before
2012. It is therefore even more important to see how the network character of Go Africa… Go Germany... developed so far and what can still be
improved till the foundation will be in place.
Therefore let me ask what were the goals for us, the scholarship
holders and how did they evolve and change over time? As a member of
the first generation Go Africa... Go Germany..., I am happy to put forward
that the rather diffuse goals that we found at the beginning have taken
shape and were concretized in an astonishing way throughout the past
three years. Nevertheless, it is important to assess how it all started.
When sending off our applications our main motivation to apply
was rooted in the fact that we were all young people profoundly interested in how society and politics work. If we could experience this
through a fieldtrip across Germany and Namibia that gave us privileged
access to all key players in society and without censorship, in a way
never experienced before, this was a lot better then gathering knowledge
in a library as we usually did. If this came in addition in the form of a
scholarship and in this sense as a “free lunch”, then this was even much
better. I hardly believe that anyone thought in the beginning that this trip
was exclusively about tearing down stereotypes, especially because we were definitely not a group with a high level of stereotypical beliefs from the start. Instead, this trip was about knowledge accumulation, in the first place! Surprisingly, the goal perception that we had after the five weeks of absolutely intense
participation in the programme was a fundamentally different
one. Now it was as clear as it could get: knowledge accumulation
was ok, but more then anything else we wanted to uphold the
strong personal ties that had been formed between us through- 49 -
out the trip. We were totally infused with the idea that this network should endure, long beyond the point of the actual programme termination in 2007. Therefore, something very particular must have happened to us during our joint venture through
Germany and Africa, as our perspective was transformed from
one being determined by a rather individually motivated spirit
towards a much more collective one. This was not only reflected
in our “hearts and minds” but also entered the official statements
of the programme promoters. Where the diminution of prejudices and
stereotypes had still been key issues in the programme statements of
2007, already for the second and third generation the shift towards the
network idea got the lead function as the overarching goal of the programme.
What happened there during the trip was not only the result of
our individual interaction but worked also due to a specific set of network
tools that developed throughout the trip. These tools did not cease to
exist once the trip was over but instead were adopted by and evolved
throughout the successive generations. It is exactly the evolution of
these tools that should be looked at when one wants to evaluate to
which extent the programme goals on the network side have been fulfilled so far.
HEAVY TOOLS
The most important network tools developed within the Go Africa… Go
Germany project so far are the Common Paper, the activation of participants as moderators, the blog, the common webpage, the Joint MAG
and the Go Africa... Go Germany Facebook group. In the following I will
introduce these tools and show how each influenced the network character of the programme.
A Common Paper is produced by each generation of scholarship
holders and contains contributions from all participants. The aim is to
generate specific policy recommendations on how to facilitate a “true
partnership” between Africa and Germany. It is written while the participants are on tour and receives its final editing by inter-continental teams
after programme determination. Not only is the content presented to key
policy-makers but the policy recommendations of all three papers serve
also as the intellectual founding stock of the recently launched African
German youth educational foundation. The Common Paper is a crucial
network resource for the group. People from both continents work for the
first time together on concrete policy propositions. It is here where ideas
come together, where different approaches to policy solutions become
evident and where they are bridged to find common ground. The process
to get to the final product is a long and complex one which ties the net- 50 -
work together far beyond the common journey. Evidence for the importance of the paper is that as a reaction to the experiences of the first
generation with the paper the programme is now divided into two temporally partitioned parts. The partition guarantees room to think, to reflect
and to connect between the trips through Germany and Africa. With the
now adopted formative period in Cloister Seeon in Germany at the beginning of each programme, it is guaranteed that the participants have
enough time to work on the paper. This is a decisive step forward when
one remembers that the first generation was for the largest parts constrained to write the paper during bumpy and dusty rides through Namibian deserts.
A second network tool is the active binding in of participants into
the programme structure by assigning them tasks as moderators and
facilitators. This transforms passive consumers of knowledge into active
producers. Nevertheless, this could be pushed even further. Participants
could be asked not only to moderate but also to co-present in addition to
the booked speakers. This would not only foster strong engagement with
the topic but also strengthen personal ties with the official speaker already way before the programme starts. In the end this can spill off valuable side connections for the network.
Another crucial innovation that helps to keep the network together
are the web tools, such as the recently created blogspot, the Common
Webpage and the Facebook group. The blogspot can function as a realtime update that allows the outer world to participate and to monitor the
group throughout the trip. The common webpage instead serves both as
a source of information about the programme and is also the “collective
memory” of the project. In this sense, it is a database where participants
can search for and connect with people that work in similar fields. At the
same time it is an archive of the common actions that have so far been
taken. The Facebook group has complementary character as a platform
that facilitates communication especially between different Go Africa...
Go Germany generations.
Though, even all these innovations are a great step forward
compared to the webbased network tools that we possessed in the first
generation (which came close to zero) there is still a lot to be done. First
of all, the blogspot is heavily under-used or actually hardly used at all! It
is of course hard to force people to write into a blog, considering that
they are tied into a tight programme that keeps them busy almost day
and night. Nevertheless, I think it could be worthwhile making it mandatory for each participant to be responsible for a day or two where she or
he has to report the knowledge gathered throughout the day. This comes
close to the trip-diary that we had before, but the crucial difference is
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that the outside world can participate in real time and take advantage of
the unique knowledge that is collected throughout the trip. This will foster
the network character between the generations, as older generations
can monitor and actively take part in the programme of the current generation. It will also attract further public attention by becoming a source
of unique knowledge, as the blog will essentially contain primary
sources.
Second, the setup of the common webpage is a remarkable step
forward as it created a common reference point that is universally accessible. This is excellent, but in order to function as a database, alumni
must constantly update their personal data (e.g. from the first generation
not even half have updated their CVs). It is important to signal to other
participants where one is at this very point in time in order to be a useful
network resource.
An additional very positive innovation is the Joint MAG. The Joint
MAG is a magazine edited by scholarship holders that provides a wonderful selection of interviews and articles on various crucial topics in society and politics in Africa and Germany. It is, so to say, the written continuity of the programme. The recipe for success is the right balance between contributions from outside commentators and scholarship holders.
It is the network tool that works at the moment best in fulfilling the task
as being a joint platform for intergenerational communication.
WHAT IS NEXT
The various actors involved in this project started with
quite different premises about goals and aims of the programme. However, this did not hinder that the goals converged
and fused into two overarching ones throughout the past three
years. One of them is the construction of a strong network that
holds scholarship holders together not only within but also
across generations. For this, my assessment is absolutely positive. As I showed, a long list of initiatives and instruments have been created that facilitate the network character. Here, the programme is on a
good track. Yet, being on a good way does not mean that the goal is
reached. This is partly because a substantial amount of the tools and
instruments that I listed above are still only halfheartedly used. My
pledge is that this should change in the future. And not only this, but new
innovative network tools have to be developed constantly to facilitate
conversation amongst us.
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The other overarching goal is the creation of the youth foundation.
Achieving the envisioned legal status of a “Bundesstiftung” is almost inevitable if this kind of exchange between Africa and Germany should be
sustained for the coming generations. Nevertheless, as already mentioned before, it is largely a function of the political process whether and
when the foundation will be established. To draw up a negative scenario:
it could very well be that it will only be established in 20 years from now,
or even worse, never. The question is what then? Well, it is exactly for
such a scenario that we as the participants should all constantly work on
the further development of our network resources, as they represent the
second big pillar of Go Germany... Go Africa..., and as they are luckily
quite immune to any exogenous political process.
For the very last, I want to put forward a consideration that came
out of a deliberative meeting of first generation participants last year in a
small hut near Berlin. In a nutshell, the discourse was the following: the
overarching goal of creating a strong network between individuals from
Africa and Germany is of course legitimate, but the crucial question that
is left by the wayside is what purpose this network should serve. Should
it just evolve into a clientelistic elite network that caters jobs to its members? Definitely not! But what should it then be about, beyond the very
vague premise of a functionalistic network? What we need is to develop
a common notion of a philosophy that underpins our network. Such a
philosophy should be enshrined in a common set of ideas, goals and
identity that we can relate to. The formation of such a set of beliefs is an
absolute crucial network resource as it diminishes our collective action
problem. To be frank, I do not think that we will endure without it. It is
here where I still see the real deficit of our community. I honestly do not
believe that a set of beliefs will simply fall from the sky. I also do not think
that we should wait till it will be octruated upon us by some higher authority. Instead, the development of a common set of ideas, of norms
and values, in short, of a philosophy with which our community can identify, should come from us the members of the network.
The discussion about these ideas has to take place if we want to
go beyond the creation of a mere functional network! It has to start now,
in a deliberative fashion, through the network tools that our community
possesses. We need a vibrant debate about the future of this project that
we are all part of and the sooner we engage in it, the better.
www.bpb.de
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Go Af
Go Germa
Project Team and
President of the Federal Agency for Civic Education/bpb
Thomas Krüger (Germany), born in Buttstädt in 1959,
initially trained as a skilled plastics and elastomer processor from 1976 to 1979, before beginning a Theology
degree and, subsequently, working as a vicar. In 1989,
he embarked on his political career as one of the founding members of the Social Democrats in the former German Democratic Republic (SDP) and was the party’s
Chairman in (East) Berlin and a member of the
“Volkskammer” (People’s Chamber) in the German Democratic Republic until 1990. From 1990 to 1991, he
was first deputy to the Mayor of East Berlin as well as
city councillor responsible for internal affairs at Berlin
Municipal Council and in the Joint State Government.
Between 1994 and 1998, he was a Member of the German Bundestag and then
took two years’ parental leave. Since July 2000, he has been President of the
Federal Agency for Civic Education/bpb. Thomas Krüger has been, and is, also
actively involved in the cultural and social sphere. Since 1995, he has been
President of the child support organisation Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk e.V., since
2003, a Member of the Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz (KJM)
(Commission for Youth Media Protection) and since April 2005, a Member of the
jury of the Hauptstadtkulturfonds (Capital Cultural Fund) in Berlin.
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rica ...
ny 2009/10
Scholarship holders
Project Manager
Dr Katja Böhler (Germany), born in Eisenach in 1971,
a lawyer by training, studied in Berlin and Cape Town
and completed part of her mandatory legal training in
Harare, Zimbabwe. She is co-founder of the organisation Lawyers for Development and Association. Dr
Böhler was coordinator for the priority area “Fokus Afrika: Africome 2004-2006” of the Federal Agency for
Civic Education/bpb. She is currently serving in the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of
Brandenburg.
Head of Department
Holger Ehmke (Germany), born in Lübeck in 1953,
Germany. In 1973, he began his studies of Biology,
German Language, Social Science and Education at
the universities of Aachen and Cologne. He subsequently studied Art and African Science in Cologne.
From 1979 to 1981, he was a member of the academic
staff at the Institute for Eastern European Studies and
Education in Cologne. Between 1981 and 1983, he was
the editor of the scientific journal “Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte”. From 1983 to 2000, he was head of the
planning staff of the Federal Agency for Civic Education/bpb and from 2001 to 2006, head of the Cultural
Department of the bpb and different project groups of
the bpb. Since 2007, he has been head of the department for civic education
dealing with young people who have a low affinity towards politics. Since 2006,
Holger Ehmke has been managing the “Go Africa... Go Germany...” scholarship
programme at the Federal Agency for Civic Education that has been launched by
the Federal President.
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Project Staff
Realization of the Programme
Sabine Wicher (Germany), born in Karl-Marx-Stadt in
1979, studied Political Science, Romance Languages and
Intercultural Communication at the universities of Chemnitz and Granada/Spain. She has worked for different
NGO's, foundations and enterprises in and outside Germany and is currently working as a research assistant to a
Member of the German Bundestag. In 2007 and 2009/10,
she was involved in the programme development for, and
in charge of the realization of the German section of "Go
Africa… Go Germany...".
Alexandra Stertz (Germany), born in Neuwied in 1984,
worked as an au pair in an American family in Seattle,
USA, for six months after finishing high school at the Rhein
-Wied-Gymnasium in April 2003. Subsequently, she studied Political Science and American Literature at the University of Hamburg and at the University of Paris X Nanterre.
Her Master’s thesis dealt with the democratic development
of three governing parties in Southern Africa (ANC,
SWAPO and ZANU-PF) and, for that reason, she completed a two-month internship at the German Embassy in
Windhoek, Namibia. She graduated in December 2008. At
the moment, she is in charge of the realization of the Ghanain section of “Go Africa... Go Germany...”..
Femi Longe (UK/Nigeria) born in London in 1978. He studied Electrical/Electronics Engineer at Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was a member of international student organisation AIESEC becoming Director for
Africa in 2004/2005. Since then he has worked on education and youth leadership projects in the UK and is the cofounder of Africa++ an agency that works with the African
diaspora community on social entrepreneurial ventures
across Africa. He was one of the young leaders on the Federal President of Germany's „Partnership with Africa“ initiative. At the moment, he is in charge of the realization of
the Nigerian section of “Go Africa... Go Germany...”..
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Administrative Staff
Nadine Krüger (Germany), born in Frechen in 1982, completed her training as a middle-grade civil servant in 2007.
For a year she worked for the Department for Rural Development and Real Estate Regulations at Cologne Regional
Authority. Since 2008, she has been working for the department in charge of the education of young people with a
low affinity towards politics at the Federal Agency for Civic
Education/bpb.
Rhaban Schulze Horn (Germany), born in Bonn in 1965,
completed an apprenticeship as a goldsmith in 1991 before he started working for the federal administration as a
graduate in office management (Diplom-Verwaltungswirt).
He has been working at the Federal Agency for Civic Education/bpb since 2001. Meanwhile he has completed a
Master study in European Administration Management and
is employed as a civil servant in the higher intermediate
service at the department for civic education dealing with
young people who have a low affinity towards politics”.
Project Assistance
Melanie Ewert (Germany), born in Berlin in 1983, has
been studying North American Studies, Political Science
and Geography at the University of Bonn since 2004, after
completing an exchange year in Toronto, Canada. She
spent two semesters at Sciences Po in Grenoble, France,
and completed an internship at the Goethe Institute in Boston, USA.
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Responsibility for the Common Paper
Miriam Shabafrouz (Germany), born in Heidelberg in
1980, is a former scholarship holder and social scientist
working for the German Institute of Global and Area
Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg. She will organise the work
on the common paper, which will be a visible output of
the exchange programme and one of the elements contributing to the development of an African-German network of scholars, academics and young professionals.
Attending Physician
Dr. Steffen Heinemann (Germany) born in Siegen/Westfalia in 1941, studied medicine at the Universities of Münster and Bochum/Essen. Doctoral
thesis about psycho-social factors in the genesis of
alcoholism, Training for internal medicine at University Clinic Essen. From 1976 to 2009 working in
his own practice for internal medicine in Cologne.
- 58 -
The scholarship holders
Abdulrahman Salaudeen Adeshina (Nigeria), born in
Lagos in 1986, is studying Business Administration at the
University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and is due to complete his
studies 2010. He has a high level of proficiency and interest in the use of computers and information technology. He
was recently nominated as the Best Graduating Student,
Department of Business Administration, University of Ilorin
(2008/2009 Session).
Adam Natia James (Ghana), born in Tamale in 1983,
holds a B.A. (Integrated Development Studies) from the
University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. He is
a specialist in Rural Sociology and Community Development. He works as a research assistant at ZODA, a management consultancy firm in Ghana, where he is involved
in data collection and analyses with SPSS and epi info
computer software programs and report writing. He is currently completing his National Service at the Metropolitan
Health Directorate, Tamale, Ghana, as an Assistant Executive Officer.
Alexander Schwartz (Germany), born in Marburg an der
Lahn in 1981, is studying Political Science at the universities of Hamburg and Vienna. He also works at the Research Department on War, Armament, and Development
(FKRE), covering the conflict in Chad and political development in post-war societies. Further fields of interest are
resource revenue management and international development. He also did project work in Panama.
- 59 -
Chidiogo Akunyili (Nigeria), born in Enugu in 1985, is
originally from Nigeria. She has lived and worked in United
States, Germany, France, Cameroon and China, where
she currently resides. Her interests lies in international
affairs and politics of developing and transitioning countries
with an emphasis on the African continent. Her background
is in International Relations and Political Science, having
studied at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Institut
d’Études Politiques de Paris. In the past, she has held positions with the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in
Philadelphia, where she researched the state of think tanks
and civil societies in Sub-Saharan Africa and China, as
well as with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) in
Berlin, where she was the Program Director of the Cultural
Diplomacy in Africa (CDA) Program.
Claudia Hargarten (Germany), born in Trier in 1982.
When she spent nine months in Southern Africa after
completing her "Abitur" (senior secondary leaving certificate examination), she discovered an interest in development
policy and international cooperation, which prompted her to
begin her studies in International Development in Vienna
in 2004. During her studies, she was able to build up her
practical experience by working for the African organisation
ICAP and by completing an internship at the United Nations. She sees her professional future in international cooperation, particularly with African countries.
www.bpb.de
- 60 -
Constanza Zähringer (Germany), born in Geilenkirchen in
1983. After completing her intermediate examination in
Politics in Cologne, she embarked on a law degree in
Bonn in 2004. That same year, she also travelled to Kenya
and Tanzania, where she stayed for an extended period.
In 2007, she completed an internship at the German Embassy in Cameroon.
Coretta Maame Panyin Jonah (Ghana), born in Ghana in
1981. She has a Bachelor Degree in Economics, a Diploma in Statistics as well as a Masters in Economics from
the University of Ghana. After having worked at the Institute of Economic Affairs in Ghana as well as for the Ghana
Institute of Management and Public Administration, she is
currently a lecturer in the Business Studies Department
and a coordinator of a number of educational programmes
as well as a mentor and role model to many female students of the university. Her primary research interest is in
trade issue whilst her secondary interest is in health economics.
Corinna Braun-Munzinger (Germany), born in Ludwigshafen in 1982, holds an M.A. in Economics and Politics
from the University of Freiburg and a B.A. in Integrated
Social Sciences from International University Bremen, with
an exchange semester at the Institut d’Études Politiques in
Aix-en-Provence. After completing a traineeship at the
General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
in Brussels, she is currently working in the area of trade
relations between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries at the European Centre for Development Policy Management in Maastricht, Netherlands. She
completed internships at Germanwatch e.V. in Bonn, Centre for Civil Society in New Delhi and Bertelsmann Stiftung
(Foundation) in Gütersloh and spent a high school student
exchange in La Paz, Bolivia.
- 61 -
Emmanuel Antwi Akoto (Ghana), born in Tema in 1983,
is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK, and holds a first class Marketing degree
from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Greenhill College. Emmanuel’s passion for international development developed when he
represented Ghana at the International Young Professionals Summit (IYPS 08) in Manchester, UK, in August 2008.
He is the Founder and President of ECA Leadership Foundation, an NGO determined to raise the next generation of
Ghanaian leaders, and he also works with Coca Cola
Ghana Limited. Emmanuel hopes to begin a Master in
Public Administration in International Development (MPA/
ID) programme at Harvard Kennedy School in September
2010.
Fabian Kiehlmann (Germany), born in Berlin in 1984, is
currently completing a semester abroad at Sciences Po
Lille as part of the ERASMUS Programme at the University of Mannheim, where he has been studying Political
Science (Bachelor of Arts) since 2007. Following an
eleven-month period of voluntary service at the Presbyterian Comprehensive High School (PCHS) Kumbo in Cameroon, he spent a year in Paris, completing internships at
“Bread for the World” (a protestant aid organisation based
in Germany) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in
Benin. Fabian Kiehlmann is also involved in the “Terre
des Hommes” and “Ökonomie und Ökumene” (Economy
and Ecumene) higher education initiatives.
Fatoumata Binta Diallo (Guinea), born to a Guinean father and a Nigerian mother in Conakry in 1984, has lived in
Nigeria and is currently a second-year student in Private
Law in the University of Conakry’s Faculty of Law and Political Science. She has gained experience in the field of
communications, having worked for a telecommunications
company. International law and politics are her main interests and she speaks French, English and two African languages, Yoruba and Fulani.
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Isaac Owusu (Ghana), born in Accra in 1984. In
2005 he entered the University of Ghana to obtain a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. Through
his work and excellent academic performance, he
was selected by his university in 2007 to take part in
an international study abroad programme at Macquire University in Sydney, Australia. The programme
was designed to teach intercultural communication
competence and led Isaac to different countries in
Asia, Europe and Africa. He plans to graduate in
March 2010 and intends to pursue a Masters Degree
in International Relations.
Joseph Goakai (Sierra Leone), born in Serablu-Bonthe
District in 1985, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History
and Sociology from University of Sierra Leone Fourah Bay
College and is a postgraduate student at Njala University,
Sierra Leone. He is currently studying Peace and Development, with interests in issues around extractive resources, identity, youth and conflict. He is a research assistant to the Conflict, Security and Development Group
(CSDG) at King’s College London on the Youth Vulnerability and Exclusion (YOVEX) project - Sierra Leone. He is
also a volunteer with Peacelinks Sierra Leone, a local
NGO working with children and youth.
Joseph J. Matimbwi (Tanzania), born in Ifakara in 1980,
gained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Tumaini University
in Tanzania in 2006. Since then, he has been working at
the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) (German Society for Technical Cooperation) in
the Tanzanian German Programme to Support Health as a
junior legal advisor in health. His duties mainly focus on
the legal aspects of health, on public-private partnerships
and on the links between health and human rights. Currently, he is coordinating a human rights-based approach
of the Tanzanian German Programme to Support Health.
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Kai Striebinger (Germany), born in Brunsbüttel in 1986.
His French-German undergraduate studies in Political Science (Sciences Po Paris in Nancy, 2005-2008), his double
Master’s programme in International Affairs and Security
Policy between Sciences Po Paris and the Free University
of Berlin (since 2008), several exchange programmes
(USA, France) and his participation in a student project in
Niamey, Niger (summer 2006) have taught him the importance of knowing about cultural peculiarities, political and
historical sensitivities, and social and economic disparities
in order to create true understanding. This understanding is
possible because of our common humanity. In that respect,
we are all equal.
Keren Asante (Ghana), born in Accra in 1986 and married,
graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ashesi University (Ghana) in 2006. She currently works as a local unit accountant with the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Africa West Area. Her
responsibilities include analysing local unit finances, reconciling financial data and training clerks on basic financial
record keeping. In the course of her life, Keren has won
several awards, including a scholarship to study at the
American University of Rome and the opportunity to be
Ghana’s female representative at the Summit for Africa’s
Young Business Leaders in the USA. She is actively engaged in girl guiding.
Kristin Heinig (Germany) born in Schmölln in 1984. After
her high school graduation, she completed European Voluntary Service in a Belgian Red Cross home for asylumseekers. Since 2004, she has been studying Cultural Studies, Politics and History and Culture of Africa at the University of Leipzig. She spent a semester at the University
Paris 7 Diderot in France and two months in Azare, Nigeria, for a Hausa language course organised by the German
Academic Exchange Service. In addition to her studies,
she is working voluntarily on different projects in the field of
migration and refugees as well as in a cultural club.
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Liliane Uwimana (Rwanda), born in Kigali in 1982. After
completing her high school education in Nursing Sciences
and working as a nurse for a year, she embarked on a
Social Sciences degree in 2002. During her four years at
the Université Libre de Kigali, she had the opportunity to
do various internships with different organisations involved
in counselling vulnerable people, especially children,
women and HIV/AIDS positive people. One year after completion of her “Licence” degree in Sociology, in August
2008, she started a one year Master’s programme in Humanitarian Studies at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
Lotta Mayer (Germany), born in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt in
1983, studied Sociology, Political Science and Philosophy
in Heidelberg and Madrid from 2002 to 2008. Since 2008,
she has been working on a PhD dissertation with Prof. Dr.
Mathias Bös in Marburg. Her dissertation involves developing a socialisation theory-based model of the selfperpetuation of violent conflicts. Since 2004, she has been
a Member of the Board of Directors at the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK) and joint
head of the working group “Conflicts in sub-saharan Africa”.
Matthias Roth (Germany) born in Munich in 1981. After
gaining his German high school leaving certificate and
completing basic military service, he studied Business
Administration and Engineering at Munich University of
Applied Sciences. During his academic studies, he also
completed a period of vocational training, various internships and several sojourns abroad. Since October 2007,
Mr. Roth has been working towards his PhD in the field of
Medical Engineering as part of research cooperation between the University of Lübeck and Munich University of
Applied Sciences. In his leisure time, Mr. Roth is a keen
sportsman and is also interested in languages and foreign
countries.
-65 -
Nicolas Hausdorf (Germany), born in Heppenheim in
1984. After graduating from high school in southern Hesse,
he moved to Hamburg in 2005, where, a year later, he
began studying for a degree in Political Science at the University of Hamburg. He is majoring in International Relations and Political Philosophy and has recently worked on
authoritarian regimes in transition, the political philosophy
of Carl Schmitt as well as megacities as actors in international relations. Nicolas Hausdorf has lived and studied in
the United States and in France and is currently preparing
his Bachelor’s thesis.
Serge Otis Tokom Tchepnkep (Cameroon), born in Mbo
Bandjoun 1980, graduated from Siantou Higher Institute
(Yaounde, Cameroon) in 2005 with International Business
and Marketing Management as majors. Since then, he has
being working toward integrated solutions that may help
enhance the development of Africa in general and of Cameroon, in particular. He initiated the web portal
www.237online.com in 2008. It focuses on information
about Cameroon. Moreover, he was an observer during
the legislative and municipal elections of 2002. He is also
engaged in several community works programmes.
Susanne Meltl (Germany), born in Munich in 1983, studied
Political Science at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
and at Duke University, USA, graduating in August 2009.
Her research interest is in regime transition, logic of political violence, and conflict resolution. During her studies in
Erlangen, she worked at the university’s Central Office for
International Affairs and was a delegation member to the
National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York in
2008. She completed an internship at the Friedrich Ebert
Foundation (FES), South Africa Office in Johannesburg
and is currently engaged as an intern at the German Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in Uganda.
- 66 -
Preparatory seminar 2009
- 67 -
Reception at Bellevue Palace 2007
Reception at Bellevue Palace 2008
- 68 -
Reception at Bellevue Palace 2009
- 69 -
Notes:
- 70 -
www.bpb.de/goafrica
- 71 -
Imprint:
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www.bpb.de
Responsible:
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Printing:
Bonn, February 2010
www.bpb.de/goafrica