In kindergartens, schools and institutions for the disabled in Germany, young Africans can make a voluntary service. But it can take time and nerve costs, to the extent it is. Nevertheless, the interest is on the rise.
Abdoubari Boukari rises quickly up the stairs in the second floor, to the office of the German Academic exchange service (DAAD). To the right and to the left a couple of students, the lecture notes from Lectures and study for exams to sit. It is quieter than usual. Because at the University of Abomey-Calavi, the largest University in the West African state of Benin, are still semester break. In the two-story building, the 25-Year-old events attended and exams prepared. However, this should be for at least a year. Boukari want to practically work in Germany.
This is made possible by the participation in the Federal voluntary service, available since 2011 and is also open to foreigners. The German Student has a place in the living and working community, according to Bach, in Baden-Württemberg, where he will work with disabled people. Experience in this field, he has already collected in Benin. “I have worked with small children and people with autism. I’ve got the kids and moved out, gave them food. We have also organized games for them,” he says about his internship. For a month he has not worked in the case of a Benin-governmental organisation, which cares for people with disabilities and orphans.
Abdoubari Boukari would like to work in Germany with the disabled
Doubts as to the willingness to Return
When he flies, however, according to Germany, is unclear. His first visa application was rejected. A new appointment at the Embassy is scheduled for the end of October. Even if there are no official Figures, are aware of the use in Germany of this Problem. “We don’t know of course, that the formalities for the volunteers are not always easy,” says Christoph Herrman of the “friends of Waldorf education” in Karlsruhe, which also receives Volunteers from abroad. A rejection would be related often with the fear that volunteers could not return to the use back in their home, he says. “In most cases, this is unfounded,” Mr Mann’s experience, on the contrary: “It happened that someone is doing a training here, after a certain time, but noted: I’ve learned a lot, but now with my Knowledge back home, where it is perhaps even more meaningful is needed.”
For gates Süßenguth also the different angle of view shows the on mobility. Süßenguth works at the “working group Learning and Helping Overseas”, a umbrella organisation with 60 member organisations, with headquarters in Bonn. He says: “As a young German, in almost all countries, law is simply the opportunity to get a residence permit, while it is for young people from West Africa or from other countries is difficult.” For the granting of the Visa collateral in the home country, would be about land ownership, a contract to play after the return, or kids of your own a role. The have young people as good as never. The young German is different. However, they are not asked for it.
Well-known, this variant is: Young German volunteer service abroad, as this young woman
A lust for adventure and knowledge of the German language
Nevertheless, the interest increases Süßenguth says. “We have to be first levied in 2014 Numbers. Globally, there were at that time in Germany, around 1500 Volunteers have come from over 130 countries.” This number has almost doubled, and this year according to initial estimates, at about 2800. At the University of Abomey-Calavi also witnessed the DAAD lecturer Friederike Heinz. “I’m been here for four years, and in the first two years, I’ve noticed little of it. In the last two years there were more applicants. These are not masses, but about four to five, and the tendency is rising.”
The reasons for this are many and varied. For one, there is a lack of scholarships. The chances to go in frames of an exchange programme to Europe, are low. This desire for adventure and personal commitment. So, Friederike Heinz, which decreases the language tests experienced it. “I see the Parallel to the voluntary service, is also available for German, the go going abroad after the Abitur, in order to engage socially.” The language skills of young people in Benin definitely benefit from it. Anyway, Friederike Heinz knows so far, only German students went to Germany. You will eventually have to speak enough English to be able to carry on conversations. To reach this level in addition to the regular studies is difficult.
Return, with mixed experiences
Be English, the 23-year-old Gabriel, who don’t want to use his real name. Before he left last year to Dresden, he was already in Berlin. The city pleased him extremely well: “Every Time I’m in Berlin, I am in Africa. People have different skin colors. I feel very comfortable there.” For his Year he hoped to arrive in the capital. But it was a school in the Saxon capital. There, he has made mixed experiences, especially, when he visited a friend in the small town of Pirna, told Gabriel: “There we were on the road at night, and behind us, people said: ‘who is black, is black.’ I was afraid of.”
In the DAAD-office, he is Abdoubari Boukari tips for his upcoming time in Germany. However, this experience cannot be put off. “We have different skin colors. But man remains man,” he says, and hopes to soon have his visa in the passport.