Testimonial

Cane Harakuta: Yes, I am from Namibia, my name is Cane Harakuta and I am 22 years old. I joined the Namibian red cross in January as a volunteer. When I joined, there was a program where you could help in different areas of Namibia. I just thought I’m going to try it out, first at the office and then out in the field.

Cane Harakuta: I was working in different youth helping programs. You can say I was like the link between the youth and the Red Cross, informing the youth about different programs or opportunities they could use.

Cane Harakuta: I’m part of the exchange program called weltwärts. In which I could get to Germany in exchange for German younger people who went to Namibia instead. I’m currently at an aged home in Bochum. I’m working for the DRK (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, German Red Cross). Basically, my job is entertaining the older people and taking care of them, playing games, talking to them, take them to have a walk so they don’t feel left alone, giving them company basically. But also taking them to the doctor’s or to the hospital by accompanying them.

Cane Harakuta: I started in Bochum three months ago.

Cane Harakuta: At the beginning when we arrived at the airport, it was very crowded, I have never been to a place with so many people before. I was a little bit nervous because I couldn’t speak the language so well, I was asking myself how will I survive, because every second person I met only spoke German. I was excited as well: something new, new people, new country, new language. Afterwards, we went to the hotel where we stayed and that was more relaxing.

Cane Harakuta: Yes, I met some German volunteers in Namibia. We also had three German volunteers who told us a bit about Germany, how they live and work here and they taught us the basic words before we started our journey.

Cane Harakuta: The first expectation was, that it would be really cold. It turned out, that it was true, it was really cold. But in September people told me: „No, it is not cold yet, wait until January”. But already September was cold enough for me (Laughter). I was looking forward to learn new things about Germany and Europe. I was a little bit cautious, too, because I read a lot about many refugees arriving in Germany and I was not sure how the Germans would react towards me.

Cane Harakuta: Well, yes and no. I am learning a lot, it is cold (laughter). That thing about refugees: People are scared of you because they don’t know you or your story, but I expected it to be a lot worse with the stereotypes. Actually they are just cautious until they get to know you.

Cane Harakuta: No, I moved into a flat, 15 minutes’ walk from my workplace. A small flat with a kitchen and one dormitory.

Cane Harakuta: Well yes, sometimes my work colleagues take me out and we spent some time. I also met a woman at the football stadium, I did an interview for the local newspaper when I arrived, and she recognized me. She talked to me and asked me about Namibia, she was very interested about my volunteer career. She even invited my colleagues and me for a dinner. It was very interesting. We spoke a lot about Namibia and Germany.

Cane Harakuta: People here are more reserved than in my home country. In Namibia it is very normal to start talking at a bus stop for example, just because you are both waiting for the bus, and then you talk about almost everything. Here in Germany it is very different, the people are way more reserved about talking to strangers. But once you know them, the shyness is completely gone and they take care of you and try to help in every possible manner.

Another difference is that here in Germany everything is more structured and precise. In Namibia everything is a chaos or not much organised as here.

Cane Harakuta: I do really miss the food, it is so different from here. We have so many different dishes, there are complicated to cook here. We have a special corn flour; I can’t get that here. It is just the food!

Cane Harakuta: German food is more quantity. You eat „Kartoffel“ a lot! (Laughter) Kartoffel, Kartoffel, Kartoffel. Furthermore, it is more about health in Germany, which is very different from Namibia. Back home we eat more for the taste of it.

Cane Harakuta: No, not yet. I’m going to do one in the beginning of next year, because classes had already started when I arrived here. But I only speak to one or two colleagues in English, the rest of them speaks in German to me, so I understand a lot by now. Unfortunately, I can’t not speak as well as I would like to. But I do speak German with the older people, and it worked quite well so far.

Cane Harakuta: It is more difficult than with young people of course, but once they know you there is no problem. When I told them I come from Namibia they were like “What? So, you left your mother there, and live here all alone, are you going back for Christmas?“ They are more shocked rather than afraid. They respect that I came to Germany from such a long way to volunteer at their home. Sometimes the language is still an issue, but it is getting better.

Cane Harakuta: I believe it is something to make the world better, it creates something which will grow. To meet people, regardless of their background and work and live together. Coming together from different cultures educates everyone, you learn about different aspects of the other’s life. It helps to promote diversity which I think is really important.

Cane Harakuta: Of course, it strengthens the world to be one and plays a big role to the third world. It helps to promote mutual understanding between the youth, it is a big opportunity for all whom take part. You get to understand them better, because you do not only hear about their background, you also experience it. This makes it easier to understand them.

Cane Harakuta: They play a big role. We all have stereotypes in our heads, me too. But now I’m living and working here, I believe stereotypes are something you get told, but when we experience it, we learn it. We accept the differences and differentiate better.

There was a situation where I was told, that in Africa it is more about respect than in Germany. Here it is also about respect, but you work hard for it. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, in Africa you must respect the old people because they are old. Here it is more about the work you have done than the age you have. Which in my opinion is a good thing.

Cane Harakuta: I actually experienced it myself. I thought that with the refugees, German people were going to treat me bad and say strange things to me, but it was quite different when I arrived. So definitely yes, if you do an intercultural exchange it helps you to be a better person. You change in a good way. It not only helps you, but also all the people around you. We are all humans, after all.

Cane Harakuta: Yes, I think they don’t have stereotypes about Namibia, more about Africa in general. I was in situations with friends, when they asked “So, how is Africa?“. I only could answer “I do not know Africa; I can tell you something about Namibia”. Or when we are around the city, my colleagues ask me if I know that African guy. Maybe he is from Africa, but not from Namibia... Africa is a big continent. (Laughter) I mean, they are influencing me in a good way, and I think I’m influencing them in a good way, too.

Cane Harakuta: I would say to them, they should promote the Programs, so they became bigger. Because it is about what we can do together: to build a better future for all of us and for the next generation. Even if I have to go back now, I should be able to influence the people from Namibia to come here, to experience the difference and lose their stereotypes about Germans and Europeans.

Cane Harakuta: They should take the big opportunities, accept challenges, educate themselves and volunteer. Volunteering is a really good decision which will make you grow up as a human being.

Cane Harakuta: I want to finish my studies once I go back home, and continue to works as a volunteer for the red cross, especially for the younger people. I really learned a lot here, so I would really like to take that knowledge back to Namibia and try to spread that knowledge during the youth programs.

Cane Harakuta: Yes, definitely. I would take the chance without any doubt if had the opportunity. It is something big for me, important, not only for me but also for the rest of the world.

Cane Harakuta: Yes, the time management. Every detail, every move you make is really important, it is something I learned here in Germany which I would still apply in my daily life back in Namibia. I will definitely be more structured once I go back, I do like that from Germany.