Navigating Social Spaces: A quest for Belonging
This panel discussion brought together diverse voices from Osnabrück’s academic and community landscape, sparking a profound dialogue about belonging and social spaces. A critical point emerged from Dr Stefan Serwe, highlighting how German institutions fall short of creating inclusive spaces despite significant migrant contributions. Esther Nachiwara emphasised the crucial role of policymakers, urging them to collaborate more closely with grassroots organisations that understand community needs but face funding and policy constraints. Jaco Herbst offered a compelling metaphor of integration as a “two-way street,” suggesting that Germans must embrace discomfort alongside migrants in creating a new collective identity. Student participants from the “My City, My Safe Space” project voiced a powerful sentiment about moving beyond mere accommodation to achieve genuine connection, noting how comfort zone tendencies within different groups often limit meaningful interaction and true inclusion.
Creating Safe Spaces: A Journey Towards Belonging in Osnabrück
My City, My Safe Space exemplified its objective of fostering social cohesion in Osnabrück through the BreachBuilders intercultural event, which created a vibrant platform for youth connection. The event successfully brought together local and international young people in a warm, welcoming environment that transcended cultural boundaries. Witnessing the natural bonds forming between youths from diverse backgrounds reinforced the vital importance of creating and maintaining such inclusive spaces in Osnabrück. The genuine joy and connection shared during these interactions served as compelling evidence that when given the right environment, meaningful cross-cultural relationships can flourish naturally. This initiative demonstrates that intentional community-building efforts can effectively bridge cultural gaps and create lasting social bonds among young people.
The Cameroonian diaspora as a Vector of Peace and Counter-Hate speech: A possibility?
This panel explored how diaspora communities can be powerful catalysts for change both in Germany and their homeland. Contimi Kenfact emphasized the importance of reshaping global narratives about Africa by supporting youth-led initiatives in Africa that address local challenges with practical solutions. Supporting such initiatives in contexts of hate speech and political instability is an indelible marker of fostering peacebuilding efforts. The question of education and cultural revalorisation arose as fundamental in fighting hate speech and building peace. Ndjoki Henriette highlighted cultural preservation as a cornerstone in combating hate speech, stressing how cultural values should underpin social reforms and peace-building efforts. The discussion gained further depth through Virgine Kamche’s advocacy for robust diaspora support systems as expressions of unity. The absence of this system and perhaps the lack of interest among diaspora communities cripple the effectiveness of their impacts. Julie Tiemman-Natanga underscored the critical role of empowerment in addressing daily challenges. This dynamic conversation revealed how diaspora communities, while significantly contributing to German society, can create synergistic actions that enhance both belonging in their host country and provide fact-based examples of peace-building for their homeland.
At The Symphony of Taste
Flavors and Melodies, where Cultures unite brought the intercultural festival to a delightful crescendo through a feast for both palate and soul. The diverse menu served as a natural conversation starter, while musical performances spanning Brazilian rhythms, African beats, Polish melodies, and German tunes created an atmosphere of genuine connection. From the gentle notes of jazz piano to the warm tones of acoustic guitar, from saxophone serenades to heartfelt vocals, the evening wove together a tapestry of global sounds that transcended language barriers. This harmonious blend of food and music created an organic space where people could simply be themselves while learning, unlearning, and relearning from each other’s rich cultural experiences.