About Us

United in difference and diversity

0103

**Nonaba A. Mossyamba**Chairman · Afrika Time e. V.

MY STORY

After completing my metalworker apprenticeship, I was supposed to travel to Hamburg with two German colleagues for work. The date, travel details, and accommodation information were communicated to me in writing. One of the colleagues, whom I met for the first time that day, was scheduled to pick me up at 4:00 a.m. in the snow and cold. But when he arrived, he encountered me—a foreigner, and a Black one at that. He clearly hadn't expected that.

The drive to the city 200 kilometers away went by unusually quickly. It seemed as if he wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible, unable to accept who he had sitting in his car. But to his misfortune, or perhaps his good fortune, our company had reserved a triple room for us. This meant that we not only had to work together, but also sleep together. A challenge for him. What was he supposed to do? Grit his teeth and try to ignore my presence.

At the end of the week, it was time to head home, another difficult situation. But I've learned to stay calm. My upbringing taught me that we're all different and that with patience and openness, better times can come. Day after day, I tried to build a bridge between us. I sought him out for conversation during breaks, invited him to try my food, and always found small opportunities for us to connect. It took half a year for our relationship to slowly improve. The mistrust hadn't disappeared, but it began to crumble.

Then came a summer day in 2007, a day I will never forget. My colleague had been drinking, and suddenly a weight seemed to lift from his shoulders. With a genuine smile, he invited me to join him for a drink. Surprised by his sudden openness, I sat down next to him, and we drank together.

Suddenly he tapped me on the shoulder and said, "You know, I never thought I'd ever accept a Black foreigner. But you're different." I let his words sink in for a moment, then calmly asked him, "Thank you for accepting me as I am. But do you know why?" He replied, "Because you're not like the others." I asked him, "And what are the others like?" But instead of questioning him further, I shared my thoughts with him: "It's the approach that makes the difference. The time we've spent together has allowed you to get to know me as a person."

This experience finally showed me that prejudices can only be broken down through encounters. Diversity enriches everyone, and tolerance arises from mutual understanding and openness.

I eventually founded an association with the aim of bringing people from diverse backgrounds together through cultural activities. We organize festivals, discussion panels, and workshops where people can share their perspectives. Diversity is seen as a strength; it generates new ideas and strengthens community cohesion.

Direct interaction is key to breaking down prejudices. My goal is to build bridges between people from different backgrounds.

Today, this work is slowly bearing fruit: More and more people are getting to know each other better through our initiative and are accepting each other as equal members of society, regardless of origin or belief. Stronger together in diversity!

NONABA A. Mossyamba

about Us

People at an outdoor Afrika Time cultural activity

Responsibility

The association aims to strengthen relationships between communities, promote respect for differences and religions, and foster intercultural dialogue in an atmosphere of acceptable social cohesion. It also promotes general and vocational education, including support for...

Contribution

Rapid access to education and employment, combined with mandatory social security coverage, is a crucial factor for successful integration into society. The dedicated, qualified, and intercultural team at Afrika Time eV is happy to assist you and looks forward to supporting you with your needs.

Integration

The association's goal is to promote the integration of immigrants by providing them with access to better socioeconomic opportunities. Their individual life stories and specific circumstances are taken into account. A particular focus is placed on language acquisition, which is considered key to social participation and a central instrument of inclusion. This is especially important for newcomers, as it represents the key element for integration into society.

Cooperation

The partnership between non-profit organizations and municipal institutions represents a strategic lever for developing diverse and needs-based measures that serve society. This collaboration fosters dialogue, joint project development, civic participation, and social cohesion. Given increasing financial challenges, it is all the more important to strengthen civic engagement and to sustainably support associations as indispensable actors in social cohesion and local development. Despite the current situation, we intend to continue our measures to promote association life .