The attached photograph shows German volunteer conference delegates on field trip. A visit to Royal Beam Preparatory School in Accra. This educational establishment in Ghana has two German volunteer workers out of 150-strong contingent currently in Ghana.
This is a subtle avenue by which the Germans obviate the diplomatic channel of rose-colored glasses. By means of volunteerism, the Germans come across in a very simple form, and this enables them to permeate the social strata of destinations or workstations to the barest minimum of their rankings. The veil now behind them, it allows the proper assessment of situations.
Via volunteer service, Germany operates a vibrant outreach programme that engages the persons who require assistance, and through their interactions learn the sociocultural melieu which moulds and present situations in their natural, unaffected state.
Developing countries, including five in West Africa -Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon are recipients of German volunteers. Their five-day conference in Accra, Ghana offered participants the opportunity to discuss ways of improving the symbiotic relationship. For instance, volunteer recipient nations made the case of increased slots to Germany.
Germany granted a two-way street deployment when programme managers realized its priceless dividends. Hence, the need for recipient nations to also go to Germany, and state their perspectives in real life situations. Reports say, the African approach to things has been hailed in Germany, and might secure increased slots of voluntary service in German cities.
On the agenda of discussions are, visa acquisition particularly to Germany, support for families hosting volunteers, the mental health of the weltwarts volunteer community, and how to push the SDGs agenda through crisis that has the effect of the covid-19 pandemic.
An exciting aspect of these engagements is the fast-tracked learning of languages. Germans are learning the languages at places where they are serving. The reverse in true.
Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse is a fancied destination to people from all walks of life, including African nationals. In Africa, It has colonial ties with the Republics of Togo and Namibia. In contemporary affairs, Germany has fashioned deep bilateral relations with most African States as a development partner.