Three years ago, the “German-African youth initiative” went to the Start with an ambitious goal: More young Africans are expected to make in Germany a voluntary service. The previous balance sheet is mixed.
For young Europeans, the exception, it is not unusual for Africa’s youth: voluntary service abroad. 3.382 German to use last year, the “Weltwärts”-programme of the Federal government, a good third of them traveled to Africa. But only 206 of the Africans came through the program to Germany. It could be much more. 2016 Federal development Minister Gerd Müller has called the “German-African youth initiative” (DAJ). Their goal: to inspire More young Germans for a stay in Africa. In return, they should also allow more young Africans to stay in Germany. Pilot countries are currently in Benin, Tanzania, and South Africa.
The DAJ invested since 2017 in the so-called South-North exchange. This has doubled the number of young people from African countries. Was continuing to invest in a program for African school partnerships, scholarships for African students and in the promotion of out-of-school exchange programs. Alone for “Weltwärts” after DAJ -, per year up to 400 places for young Volunteers from Africa, the could volunteer to work in Germany. However, many places are still free.
For school partnerships, the DAJ provides financial support to
There are “still air”, Ulrike Mann, head of the Department of the DAJ. “It’s not the finances or the resources made available in the framework of the ‘Weltwärts’ and the other exchange programmes,” says the man to the DW. 75 percent will be financed by the German Federal Ministry for economic cooperation and development, the remaining 25 percent by the partner organisations. The funds have risen strongly in recent years: the “Weltwärts” ready to be introduced in 2017, 4.2 million euros for stays of young Africans in Germany. In 2015, it was only 0.75 million euros. The basic conditions are not favourable for young Africans. You would have to apply for a job, says man.
For many young Africans of voluntary service remains a dream
However, what’s holding you back? The “Weltwärts”-Volunteers Carlota Memba Aguado has lived a year in Tanzania. There you had the feeling that young Africans have no interest in a stay abroad. “I think every young person who is finishing school, is interested in things to see and do, change the world. I just think that it is for Africa’s youth is difficult to come to Europe.” For One, it is difficult for you to get a visa, says Agudao. Some of your friends in Tanzania will not be able to go abroad for a year, because they help the families, and, for example, younger siblings need to take care of. Aguados conclusion: “For a year abroad is not as easy as it is to us. Not that many know that there is the possibility,” says the 22-Year-old.
Jabulani Nzimande, Chairman of the exchange organisation South African Alumni Network (SAAN), can confirm that. The South African was himself several years ago as a Volunteer in Germany. Among other things, he worked in a Kindergarten in Dresden. The work was so helpful that he founded after that, SAAN, in order to allow more young Africans exchange.
Aya Chebbi is the youth Ambassador for the African Union
“Many young people in Africa are interested in an exchange,” says Nzimande. Offers such as “Weltwärts” but these were not too well known. Other offers don’t often come into question, too: “In Germany, the government funded such programs, you have to find the money yourself. Therefore less interest from the African side.”
Nzimande believes it is useful to organize pan-African Exchanges. “We should first start with the voluntary work in our own country, then our continent, then the world. Because it can at least be good that someone in Togo or Tanzania needs your knowledge. I would be President of my country, I would make the youth exchange to be my priority,” says Nzimande.
What happens after 2020?
Aya Chebbi, a youth Ambassador for the African Union, with which Germany cooperates in the framework of the DAJ, has long been for the support of young African talents. “The fact that we have the Commission of the African Union in 2017 as the engine of the DAJ, and that we have three pilot countries, shows the will. But I think it needs to happen more: there are 55 countries, Africa is the youngest continent in the world,” she said in a DW Interview. “We always need to reach more young people. For this we need, many African governments to join and partnerships so that young people can go from their countries to Germany and Europe, to establish networks and implement your ideas when you return.”
The German-African youth initiative will expire by 2020. Chibbi requires, however, that the African youth exchange must go on. “I think we need to talk about it now, what can we do beyond 2020.” Because the reason why the initiatives have been launched, it remains in their view, exist: And that is the exchange of German and African Volunteers, who believe in a boundless world, and TRANS-national solidarity.