by Josephat Seleman Hema from Tanzania,

Back in October 2019 I attended a Tanzania-Network-in-Germany conference in Berlin. I was happy to get a chance of reading one poem and one article I wrote on the last night of the conference.

The conference theme was about volunteering program and so we had so many discussion cross-cutting that theme. My message was also about my experience in my Volunteering year in Germany. A poem called WE CAN ALL BE FLOWERS was explaining on Diversity and an article titled PIECES OF MY LIFE was my perception on Racism before and after I come to Germany.

I was later on glad that my article „PIECES OF MY LIFE“ was published in HABARI magazine by Tanzania-Network-in-Germany. To my suprise, Astrid Eden received a copy of the magazine even before I knew that it was out. Astrid Eden is part of the partnership group in Dortmund between the Parish Syburg auf dem Höchsten and Kotela in Tanzania and she showed me during the Kotela Group evening that we gathered to watch a Tanzanian movie.

Few days later Astrid invited me to attend one of the monthly meeting of ‚British Circle‘ women on 5th March and that my article was to be the center of the discussion that day. It was such a good moment, I loved the atmosphere of the discussion as I had to explain somethings about myself and also about my article. In the article I generally pointed out how I had a picture of Germany from pre-conceived information back home and how I experienced some circumstances and how they might be judged under racism grounds. I also talked on many positive aspects I came across with the German community ever since I came that add up the importance in my volunteering service. Finally in my opinions, even though I can say that I have experienced no any racist action towards me, I pointed out that it is very important to know that our society still suffers from that problem. And so we still need to keep on addressing it, unceasingly.

I called my article PIECES OF MY LIFE trying to show that my life in Germany is the connection between the heard stories and practical life experiences that complete my views on different matters. So for me, Life is one big thing made up of many pieces that gather as you hear and experience different occasions through it.

I will always be grateful for having that opportunity in Germany for how positively transforming it has been. And also much thanks to Astrid Eden and the British Circle for being interested in my article, inviting me and spending their priceless time with me in such a wonderful discussion which was under a very friendly and comfortable atmosphere.