For many years now our Ministry has been enabling young people to participate in intercultural exchanges. Following this experience these young people are eager to play a part in jointly shaping the future of our world.
We need more such people who are open to new experiences, especially young people. That is why I want to further develop our exchange programmes with our neighbouring continent of Africa through a German-African Youth Initiative. This Initiative will bring together existing exchange programmes and volunteer services in African countries. But it will also have a new, additional component aimed at promoting out-of-school group activities where young people can come together with their peers from other countries.
It is important to me that young people from African countries have the opportunity to be involved in projects in Germany, and vice versa, with young people from Germany contributing to projects in Africa.
At the political level, the African Union and the governments of African countries are important partners for us. But in order to realise the kind of joint activities I am talking about here, we need everyone to get involved: committed organisations, associations, clubs and schools.
You, too, are invited to take part in this new initiative!
