Namibia and Germany, 8000 km away. And a cruel past. 100 years after
the genocide by German colonialists young Namibians were now in the
country of the perpetrators - to build bridges to a future together.
Zishen author Anne Wecking has accompanied it.
Round of workshops in the Marie Curie School: Ivan Pieters and Mubasen
Gurirab (fifth and sixth from right) and Mona Lisa Tjiurutue (far
left) talk with students and teachers about the future of the
reconciliation project.
The sugar beet is not any resistance: It is hard to be the thick tuber
pull out of the earth. The sun is low in the sky On this warm
September evening Wülferode. The heat of the day is still above the
field, the farmer explained to the guests from Namibia Brunhilde
Klußmann different growing and harvesting methods. A final jolt, then
the 24-year-old Hennie Gariseb the turnip has torn from the soil. He
shines among the unbelieving eyes and bites into the German companion,
even in the top covered with earth. Sweet would taste the sugar and a
bit earthy. "Not so bad," says Hennie, after he swept over the sandy
lips and passed the tuber has been munched. The crop is making the
rounds, trying almost every delegation wants: a piece of sugar, a
piece of Germany.
To try the seven youths and young adults from Namibia have taken three
weeks time. As part of a reconciliation project they want to learn
about German culture, to understand the mindset and lifestyle of the
people to gather ideas and build contacts and friendships, especially
with peers. For the past of the German-Namibian relationship is dark:
In 1884, Namibia declared to the German Empire colony of German
Southwest Africa. After first uprisings of the indigenous tribes of
Herero and Nama in 1896, the German colonial rulers continued from
1903 through to 1907, with violence. Lieutenant General Lothar von
Trotha ordered to shoot any Herero and Nama within the German border
and destroyed the cattle herds, their livelihood. In the battle at the
Waterberg killed the colonial rulers of thousands of Hereros in 1904,
leaving the survivors in the desert dying of thirst or starvation in
concentration camps. In 31 years of colonial rule as 70000-90000
people have lost their lives. How many have died exactly is not known.
Mona Lisa Tjiurutue was not born until several generations later. She
knows the genocide of their ancestors only from stories. But the
26-year-old anger has never felt so. Not before her first visit to
Germany and while not as well. "Already at the airport, after a
friendly greeting, I felt like home," says the handsome African woman,
as she looked with a dreamy view of an old coal iron. Even here in
front of the wood-framed display case of the local museum Wülferode
there are parallels between Germany and Namibia. Coal irons are a
relic of colonial times. They are sometimes still used today in Africa
- as well as Mona Lisa's grandmother. Mona Lisa is even more modern:
the young woman has her hair loosely restrained with a strap, the neck
is adorned with a yellow bead chain, the nails are manicured. "The
people who have killed our people a hundred years ago are no longer
alive. Why should I hate the Germans, why should I have prejudices?
"She says. The loose use of the past, they have learned on their
journey through Namibia as an actress, tells Mona Lisa. Now the
26-year-old works as a freelance photographer and has been married
since March. "We're young. We are interested in the future, "she says.
Like the six other young Namibians who are a guest in Hannover, the
Mona Lisa is committed to the Youth Reconciliation Project Youth
Action Namibia Germany (YANG). One hundred years after the battle at
the Waterberg, Klaus Windolph, now a retired teacher of Marie Curie
school Ronnenberg, the project in 2004 together with the leaders of
the Herero and Nama launched. YANG to enable an exchange between
Germany and the peoples of Namibia, bringing new ideas and
inspiration.
In 2008, Windolph with a group of pupils in Namibia this year, the
Namibian project group for the first time in Germany has come. Besides
participating in various workshops, meeting with politicians and a
theater project, a visit to Germany in a journey of discovery into a
somehow known and unknown world simultaneously.
Not just the view of the iron combines the heritage museum. In the
evening, the group sits in a cozy pub in Wülferode together. The walls
are adorned with hunting trophies and stuffed heads of deer and deer,
the furniture is rustic. Almost like in Namibia, as well as in South
Africa there are contemplative pubs, but there gemsbok and warthog
hang on the walls.
Mubasen Gurirab points to his white boots: "In Germany I was cleaning
my boots for the first time," he says. In Namibia, was not worth it.
Admit there are few paved roads, says the 34-year-old. And no trams.
That go through the middle of the green features enthusiastic Hanover,
the teacher from Omaruru, a small town north-west of the capital
Windhoek. Just like the football stadium of Hanover 96 "In Omaruru not
even the schools have a sports field. In the whole city is just a
football field, "says the London-Arsenal fan.
Ivan Pieters, head of the delegation fascinated, especially the
environmental friendliness of the Germans. On your way to Hannover
observed the 35-year-old the rotating blades of wind turbines. "Each
touch brings ideas," says the 35-year-old. ". Each view provides
inspiration for the future" for the future of the country and
especially the youth Ivan does a lot: He is a teacher, has good
contacts with the policy and is also active as an entrepreneur of his
own road construction company. The young man with short hair and broad
shoulders has big plans: In the future, even in his home town of
Mariental provide for wind energy. Initial contacts have been
initiated by Ivan.
When it comes to the YANG contact with companies and politicians, but
also about the friendships between young adults and students from
Namibia from Hanover. Hannah Klischat is one of them. The
Neuntklässlerin the Marie Curie School and Ivan are dazzling. Shortly
before they have with the rest of the group and students with the
country training center for blind people still stood on the stage. Now
is lunch time. Both are sitting on a creaky swing. When back-and-fro
swinging swinging loosely Hannah's legs in the air, her blond hair
blowing in the wind. "In advance, I am ashamed for the actions of the
German," admits the 14-year-old. The openness of the Namibian she had
overcome her inhibitions, however quickly. For Hannah, it is clear
that she wants to stay involved after the YANG-group in the Namibia-AG
in their school. The Marie Curie School Ronnenberg cultivates
sponsorships since 1998 in Namibia. There is currently a sponsor for
the Senior Secondary School in Omaruru SIGobs. "I would enjoy
traveling to Namibia to visit Ivan," said Hannah. For now it remains
only Facebook to stay friends with Ivan. Not losing contact, which is
anyway the most important thing is sure.
The youth and the country influence with new ideas for the youth and
young adults have three weeks in Germany sought inspiration - and
found. Leader Ivan wants to promote new environmental technologies.
London Arsenal fan will give Mubasen Namibian athletes the opportunity
to gain experience training in Germany. Hennie, whose favorite food
now include sugar beets would in future advocate for equal
opportunities in employment. And photographer Mona Lisa has set itself
the objective to support exchanges between students from Germany and
Namibia.
With their curiosity, the young adults Germany have explored to some
extent - with all their senses. And as Hennie has dug in on the field
after the sugar beet Wülferode so want the young people at home in
Namibia are trying their own future. Step by step. "What's done is
done," says Hennie. "Despite the past, we should stick together and
smile - Germany and Namibia and all the young people of this world."
For summer 2012, the return visit is planned - then discover that a
group of German students of Namibia and the exchange will continue.
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