Start of AGYI

Under the motto "Move it! Youth exchange as an engine for global partnerships", a two-day event to mark the launch of the African-German Youth Initiative (AGYI) was held in the former plenary chamber of the World Conference Center Bonn from 30 June to 1 July. More than 1,000 guests from Germany and 15 African countries were there to witness the occasion. German Development Minister Dr Gerd Müller and Dr Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner at the African Union, opened the event in the presence of high-ranking state guests and embassy representatives.

The AGYI was first presented to the public in the political arena of the ZukunftsTour, a nationwide tour organised by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with the theme "Global responsibility – young participation". In his speech African Union Commissioner Ikounga emphasised how youth exchanges on equal terms opened the door to a future-oriented dialogue, which empowers young people from Africa and Germany to learn from one another. The AGYI provides the political framework necessary to develop dialogue between African countries and Germany.

"The launch of the African-German Youth Initiative strengthens existing African-German partnerships and recognises bilateral exchange programmes between African countries and Germany. This project, that we launch together today, is evidence that a mutual exchange is possible," said Ikounga.

Development Minister Müller highlighted the central role of youth in shaping an equitable future. It was essential that global partnerships be strengthened to the benefit of younger generations and a range of opportunities created to allow young people from African countries and Germany to come together, he said. With this purpose in mind, the AGYI is expanding existing volunteer and exchange programmes and strengthening civil society.

"The African-German Youth Initiative offers bridges – in both directions. The goal is to break down prejudices, to learn from one another, and to make connections. That is why we are expanding the volunteer programmes, school exchange programmes, internships and grants. And we will establish new partnerships with associations and schools. Our strong first African partners are Benin, South Africa and Tanzania, and more are to follow," announced Minister Müller.

The African Union and the BMZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2015 to pave the way for intensified collaboration efforts in the field of youth exchange. The agreement focuses on establishing an African partner structure, starting with the pilot countries of Benin, South Africa and Tanzania.
The Mayor of the city of Bonn, Ashok Sridharan, and Minister President of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hannelore Kraft, delivered the opening remarks. Minister President Kraft praised the existing partnership, established in 2007, between Ghana and North Rhine-Westphalia as a successful example of African-German relations.

Some 350 people attended the conference, which presented an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas, contact details, experiences and knowledge in the field of youth exchange and volunteer programmes between African countries and Germany. 16 different expert forums featuring some 40 international experts were held over the two days. In parallel, four topic islands on the AGYI's key focal areas were open to all to browse, learn more, meet new people and network. The forums provided opportunities to deal with the key focal areas in depth and answer questions such as: What conditions must be in place in order to promote equitable partnerships? How is digitisation affecting opportunities and the types of youth exchange? How do international networks strengthen partnerships sustainably? How can we convey a differentiated picture of Africa and Germany? What opportunities do youth exchange programmes offer for business? What can we learn from specific examples, such as the partnership between Rwanda and the German Land of Rhineland-Palatinate, or the work of the Educational Network Cameroon EduNeC in the area of Cameroonian-German exchanges, or USHAHIDI, a leading digital platform on the African continent? How can schoolchildren benefit from youth exchanges?

In addition, the perspectives and expectations of the various parties involved were addressed in a panel discussion. Benin's Minister of Sport Oswald Homeky, Executive Director to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania Beng'i Mazana Issa, Member of the Bundestag Dr Claudia Lücking-Michel (Christian Democratic Union party - CDU) and the Federal Government Commissioner for Africa Günter Nooke, discussed the contribution that especially politics and young people can make.

They shed light from a range of perspectives on the opportunities, possibilities and challenges inherent in African-German youth exchange and volunteer programmes. One particular discussion related to the needs and wishes of young people in the various countries and how the AGYI could adapt to these and create added value.

Marie-Claire Niyoyita from the Rwandan organisation “Akanyoni Kaguruka” and Lennard Nickel from the “Tanzanian-German association “Deutsch-Tansanische Partnerschaft e.V.” highlighted the importance of personal encounters and the need for mutual exchanges from the perspective of young people with prior experience in youth exchange who are today actively committed to working together and communicating a differentiated view of Africa and Germany.

Panashe Chigumadzi is a young author and activist from South Africa who has appeared in publications such as ELLE magazine. In her keynote speech, she called for a paradigm shift in collaborations with African countries and for reflective approaches to youth exchange that critically examine colonial continuities and break down prejudices:

"If we are committed to being reflexive not just of our personal intentions, but of the wider socio-economic relations between our countries of origin and the host countries, travel and exchange can be important steps in helping to developing mutually beneficial relations not only between individuals, but between countries.," Chigumadzi emphasised.

The two-day event was a unique platform to share dialogue and knowledge. Discussions, forums and topic islands offered myriad opportunities for guests to network and exchange their experiences. African and German participants ranged from representatives of school exchange programmes, youth organisations and civil society initiatives, to church organisations, business-oriented organisations and government institutions, through to non-governmental organisations and media representatives. Former exchange participants and interested potential participants joined experienced individuals and newcomers to the area of youth exchange and volunteer programmes with African countries.

The topic islands featured the AGYI's three implementation agencies (Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa, Tanzania Youth Coalition and Young Beninese Leaders Association), as well as existing exchange programmes with many years of experience in the field of youth exchange and volunteer programmes, including the ASA programme, the ENSA school exchange programme and the "weltwärts" volunteer programme. The  new "weltwärts – exchange projects" funding line for extracurricular group exchanges, that was initiated by AGYI, was presented to the public for the first time.

The launch event was rounded off with a look ahead at the future of the AGYI. A closing round table discussion gave participants the opportunity to share their wishes and personal opportunities for a sustainable partnership. Ngwenya Prudence Nonkululeko from the African Union's Youth Division ended the second day by outlining the potential synergies created by this new initiative that could help to promote the African Youth Charter: She encouraged young people to make the most of the training and exchange opportunities available to them, and, together with Birgit Pickel, who is the BMZ Head of Division responsible for the AGYI, thanked the organisations committed to the AGYI.

The stakeholders present at the event underlined their willingness to work together constructively to achieve the AGYI's objectives: To promote a spirit of partnership, to communicate a differentiated picture of Africa  and Germany, to expand the African-German youth exchange programmes and to strengthen civil society.

In conclusion, the diverse contributions and lively discussions confirmed that dialogue is the key to mutual understanding. Recognising similarities, despite cultural differences and national borders, allows common goals to be developed that can only be achieved together. That is what the AGYI seeks to achieve.