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Aktion Afrika Sets New Standards
Germany is expanding its cultural cooperation with Africa "Aktion Afrika" is the name of a programme with which Germany intends to further develop its partnership with Africa, starting this year. Germany will be investing a total of 20 million euros in cultural exchange projects and programmes in 2008 to ensure even closer cooperation with African countries in the future. With this initiative Germany is consolidating its political commitment to its neighbouring continent and demonstrating that Africa has a special role to play for Germany. During its presidency of the EU Council and chairmanship of the G8 in 2007, Germany already made it clear how important good relations with Africa are. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier sees Germany and Africa as important partners. In August 2007 Steinmeier travelled to Africa for the first time as Foreign Minister, visiting Nigeria and Ghana. Meeting alumni in the two countries convinced the minister how successful educational exchange is. His second visit to Africa in February marks the launch of "Aktion Afrika", by means of which Germany is underlining its interest in serious, long-term cultural cooperation. The main emphasis of the "Aktion Afrika" is on cultural and educational policy and developing the educational infrastructure. Germany wants to reinforce cooperation particularly in the fields of higher education and science. For this reason Germany is supporting, for example, the development of African university centres to train young specialists; it is also increasing the number of grant programmes available for young African scientists. Furthermore, the "Aktion Afrika" will intensify exchanges between schools and in the sporting field. There will be increased support for German schools in Africa, which also function as places where people can meet and engage in intercultural dialogue. More teachers will be provided for German-language tuition in national schools leading to the KMK language diploma. The aim here is to give more young Africans access to German universities. An intensification of the Educational Exchange Service PAD pupil-exchange programme is also planned to give more African pupils a chance to spend several weeks at a school in Germany in future. Since sport also brings people together, the "Aktion Afrika" also aims to help in the long-term development of sporting structures for clubs and organizations by sending German sports experts and training African trainers on the spot. The comprehensive programme will be rounded off by enhanced cooperation in the media, for example in radio, TV and Internet. In December 2007 the Federal Foreign Minister presented Deutschen Welle's innovative "Learning by Ear" radio programme to African ambassadors; it is produced in the major African regional languages for young Africans. © Deutschland www.magazine-deutschland.de
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