THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Under the auspices of the “We Can Do More” project, aimed at raising awareness of the challenges faced by African refugees in Berlin, a gathering of African associations, projects and initiatives took place on Sunday, 3 November 2024. The event, implemented by German-African Initiative for Development and Integration (GAIDI) gUG, a non-profit social organization, and supported by the German Foundation for Volunteer Work and Civic Engagement (Deutsche Stiftung für Ehrenamt und Engagement – DSEE), brought together representatives from 29 associations to discuss ways to enhance support for African refugees and asylum-seekers in the German capital.
Highlighting the Challenges
In his opening speech, Femi Awoniyi, coordinator of GAIDI gUG, provided an overview of the situation facing African refugees in Berlin. He emphasized that many are in dire need of support, often holding only short-term or expired toleration status. Additionally, language barriers pose a significant challenge, as very few have attained the B1 proficiency level required to begin an apprenticeship.
Awoniyi also noted that Germany’s immigration laws have undergone positive changes during the past four years under the current governing coalition. These changes create opportunities for irregular migrants to regularize their status, provided they can demonstrate integration achievements such as proficiency in the German language or enrollment in an apprenticeship. However, he lamented that very few African migrants have been able to take advantage of these legal provisions due to a lack of necessary qualifications.
A Call to Action
Urging African associations to take an active role in supporting refugees, Awoniyi remarked, “We can do a lot to support our people. Let’s explore solutions.” His appeal set the tone for the discussions that followed, in which participants examined the full spectrum of challenges refugees from Africa face. Topics ranged from push and pull factors driving migration to the role of human traffickers, as well as the realities upon arrival and the difficulties of settling in Germany.
A Collective Response
As a tangible outcome of the gathering, five voluntary working groups were formed to collectively explore ways to assist fellow Africans navigating the asylum process. These groups aim to identify practical measures that African associations and their members can implement to provide sustained support.
Closing Remarks and the Road Ahead
In his closing remarks, Awoniyi reinforced the message that supporting African refugees should be a priority for all African associations in Berlin. He encouraged organizations to explore how they could mobilize their resources to help fellow Africans regularize their residency status. He thanked DSEE for its support for the project and also highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to fostering a productive culture of volunteering and supporting non-profit associations in their efforts.
The event marked a significant step towards strengthening community-driven support for African refugees in Berlin. Moving forward, the working groups will develop concrete action plans, ensuring that the momentum generated by the “We Can Do More” project translates into meaningful impact on the ground.
Sola Jolaoso
