"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today” And if you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
Why African Youth Education Project
Young migrants of African origin in Germany have low educational levels. A relatively large proportion of them rarely achieve the A level -/Abitur qualification. Besides, a large number of them do not continue their education after finishing junior secondary schools and some drop out completely which is very disturbing.Another major problem is the lack of incentives to motivate these kids to pursue higher academic goals. It must however be noted that motivation is crucial for success in the educational system, It has not been possible for the German school system to compensate for these deficiencies in schools where children of African descent attend.
Children from African homes have significantly little or no motivation to learn as compared to children of German origin. One of the reasons is the lack of role models in the African communities. The consequences of these situations, among others, lead to the lack of integration and participation in the broader society.
AYEA 2017 -Chamber of Commerce Hamburg The goals of the AYE Project:
The aim of the project is to raise the educational and professional achievements of the youth of African origin as well as intensify the campaign and awareness on the significance of education for the social and professional integration of African youth in Germany. The project therefore seeks not to only motivate the African youth in Germany to study hard, but also to expose them and their parents to role models in the society through a network system.Eligibility for Awards:
Africans who have successfully completed a vocation or finished learning a trade in Germany and all first year university students in Germany with African background are qualified to apply. Students and youth artisans can register at: www.ayeawards.deWe have presented awards to 54 students so far from 11 countries: Burkina Faso, Martinique, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Namibia and Togo. The prestigious yearly program enjoys massive patronage by people of all walks of life.
Latoya Spain, Angelina Akpovo & Sil Boyd -AYEA 2016 Venue -/Date:
AYEA has become a tradition and proud to be associated with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, which is founded in 1665 and has over 160.000 companies as its members.Since 2011 all the “African Youth Education Award” programs have been held at Albert-Schäfer-Saal, “IHK”, Adolphsplatz 1, 20457 Hamburg. The date for this year´s program is Saturday, 13th of October 2018. The program begins at 18.00 and ends at 21.00 Hrs.
Patrons till date:
The program is blessed with the under listed patrons: Ghana’s former Ambassador to Germany-His Excellency Mr. Paul King Aryene, Stephan Bührich-Honorary consul of Ghana –Hamburg, Associate Prof. Benjamin Armah (Director of Dr. Armah Biomedicals), Bettina Rhensius-Krohn-Honorary consul of Mali –Hamburg, Gerald Asamoah -Ex-Footballer and Otto Addo -Football Trainer.
Falko Drossmann -District Mayor of Hamburg-Mitte Endorsements:
The program has been highly endorsed by Her Excellency Clémentine Shakembo Kamanga-Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, His Excellency Paul King Aryene and H.E Akua Sena Dansua former Ambassadors of Ghana to Germany, Her Excellency Ba Hawa Keita-Ambassador of the Republic of Mali, Patrick Okoye-acting Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Johnny Muthahi MUHINDO- deputy Ambassador of Uganda, Dwamena Yeboah- Deputy Ambassador of Ghana who have all at one appoint in time attended the event.Also, Minister M.O. Ajala-Nigeria Embassy Berlin, Minister George De Souza-Ghana Embassy Berlin, Minister Sitwala Mapenzi-Namibia Embassy Berlin, Mr Imran Simmins- first Secretary Political-South Africa, Minister Connie R. Nuwagaba of Uganda Embassy Berlin, Minister Maloto Alidah Mpeta-Lesotho Embasssy Berlin, Minister Adotey Anum, Kwadwo Addo and Michael Asibi of Ghana Embassy Berlin and many high ranking diplomats from other African countries have attended the yearly event.
Participation by Politicians and Government officials:
Political representatives and other Government protocols have always been in contact with the program; among them are : Aydan Özoğuz (SPD) Minister responsible for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Ex. Bildungssenator Dietrich Wersich (CDU), Ties Rabe (SPD) Hamburg Bildungssenator, Rüdiger Kruse (CDU)Member of Parliament -Berlin, Johannes Kahrs (SPD) Member of Parliament –Berlin, Dr. Karamba Diaby (Member of Parliament –Berlin), Jürgen Klimke, Member of Parliament –Berlin, Jens Kerstan (Grüne) Hamburg Minister responsible for Energy and Environment, Falko Drossmann (SPD) District Mayor -Hamburg-Mitte, Jan Pörksen (SPD and Deputy Minister) Behörde für Arbeit, Soziales, Familie und Integration, Kofi Magnus -Member of Parliament-Ghana, Elombo Bolayela (SPD) Member of Parliament-Bremen, Jens P. Meyer(FDP) Member of Parliament –Hamburg, Aminata Touré Member of Parliament -Schleswig-Holstein, Adeyemi Ademuyiwa –SPD, Mary Porch Oduro –CDU, Mr. Klaus Lube (SPD), Mrs Irene Appiah (SPD) Mr. Huy-Tam Van and Mr. Clement Klutse both of CDU, Sylvaina Gerlich and Frank Heinrich, directors of (IMIC e.v.).
Hon Betinna Rhensius-Krohn Consul of Mali in Hamburg & Beate GröblinghoffCentral Office for VET
InternationalSupport from Consulates:
The program is generously supported by a section of African consulates in Germany likeHon. Consul. Stephan Burich -Ghana, Hon. Consul. Rheinsius-Krohn -Mali, Hon. Consul. Dr. Hans-J. Tesmer -Senegal, Hon. Consul Dr. Jens Peter Breitengroß-Kenya, Hon. Consul, Andreas Manfred Rohardt -Niger, Hon Consul Prof. Dr. Manfred Dietrich-Uganda and Hon. Consul Petra Hammelmann-Tanzania
Academicians:
The following academicians are connected with the program: Prof. Awudu Abdulai- University of Kiel, Prof. Dr. med Kofi De Heer, Associate Prof. Dr. Benjamin Armah, Dr. Uwe Heinrichs-Ministry of Education (Schulbehörde) Hamburg, Dr. Getie Galaye-University of Hamburg, Prof. Dr Marylyn Addo, Dr. de Lorent of Ministry of Education Hamburg, Dr Med. Victoria Manu, Dr Med. Kingsley Ohene Dokyi, Dr Frank Kwaw Codjoe, Dr Aissa Halidou, Dr Ramani Enusa, Dr Isaac Berbiye, Dr. med Yvonne K Uwamahoro, Dr. Koffi Lolo, Dr. Mohammed Khalifa, Dr. Aissa Halidou. Mrs. Gloria Boateng and Mr Alex Kofi Appiah (Essen).Major sponsors:
A successful program requires major support in cash and kind and we are proud to have such sponsors who support us yearly. Our profound gratitude shall always go to our major sponsors, particularly Dr. Armah –LAVOLTA, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, Consulate of Mali, Consulate of Ghana, Hamburg district of Mitte, Hamburg district of Wandsbek and Akwaaba Travels.
AYEA 2017 Group photo -Students, Elombo Bolayela, Aminata Toure, Klaus Luebke & Dayan Kodua
Individuals Donors
Personal donations from individuals in the African community has been a buffer for the success of the program and we deem it important to extend gratitude to Teddy Danso, Adeyemi Ademuyiwa, Joe Degraft –Ghana Cargo, Dipl.-Ing. Arch. Silkata A. Şahin-Adu s-Plan and Dipl.-Ing. Ohenenana Bonsu -Ayacsa. Jemima Asante, David Magezi, Alagi Darboe , Armando Camara, Hayford A Anyidoho, Christine Uwase, Eric Tuffour, Mrs Sabine Werner and Nana Acheampong for the support they give the program.
Special assistance from Africa community groups and associations:
As a program that brings African descents in Germany together to uplift and support the youth for their achievements, Community leaders and religious leaders like Pastors, Imams, Chiefs and Queen mothers and respected opinion leaders from the Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso Kenya, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Benin and Sierra Leone communities in Germany always stood behind to see the success of the program and progress of the youth and we are encouraged by their participation.
Students and Youth leaders:
As the programs focus is on the youth; it is required to have second and third generation of African youngsters in Germany to help ensure sustainability and impact of the project for the core beneficiaries. By having more youth participating in organising the program, an exit of the older team will not lead to extinction but rather a dawn of fresh and energetic minds as successors.Criticisms and Challenges:
Many have questioned the criteria used in selecting the award winners- they are perfectly right. For now the emphasis is laid on the educational campaign to get more youth to learn trade as well as climb the academic ladder to become professionals contributing to the economic and social development of the society. The selection criteria will change when we see 1000s of African children entering into the Universities and vocational institutes. For now the numbers are not encouraging so we will keep celebrating the achievements of the few making it to Universities and vocational institutes.Financial challenges:
Raising the needed funds to execute the program to its fullest has remained a great obstacle. As organizers, we are however determined to keep pushing this transformational program for the society.
How does the funding help the students and the project:Education is a never ending process. The aim is not only encouraging African youths to enrol in higher education but to as well as stay throughout the entire course and succeed.
Simply awarding the youth is not enough to keep them in school. We sincerely ask everybody to come forward and help fund this noble cause. By funding the program, we are able to accomplish the following:
- · Keep track of each enrolled students’ progress in school
- · Tackle any difficulties that might be hindering them from attending or finishing school
- · Communicate with them on an individual basis so as to encourage them
- · Help them to make the right decisions as to what they truly want to study
- · Keep records of all enrolled African descent students in the higher education system in Germany
- · Help them with petty cash issues
- · Helping them with difficult classes/courses by appointing knowledgeable tutors and mentors
- · Create recreational activities (such as sports, arts, dancing, singing, music etc) for all the students to ease stress from school activities.
- · Most importantly we connect the students with community leaders, political leaders, religious leaders, and their educational mentors so that they can have a one on one face to face meeting for advice and mentorship.
African Youth Education Project in Germany
