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The AGYI - Promoting youth exchanges, strengthening global partnerships
The African-German Youth Initiative (AGYI) has set itself an objective of promoting exchanges between young people in African countries and Germany, writes Engagement Global.
The political initiative is set out under instruction from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ) and the African Union Commission (AUC).
Greater potential for exploiting opportunities
Targeted promotion of existing exchange programmes and voluntary services, as well as creating additional programmes provide more young people with the opportunity to take part in such an exchange, and in doing so also contribute to the development of a long-term partnership between Germany and African countries. Whether this is a matter of development policy or an immigrant non-governmental organisation, whether town or country, group, or religious denomination, the spectrum of participating civic society and state stakeholders is wide-ranging and the same applies to the programmes.
International contacts, better oriented
The network of state and civic stakeholders under the auspices of the initiative means that the AGYI promotes a consistently high quality of exchange. In this case the focus is always on partnership, mutuality, a willingness to learn, and respect. At the same time, bundling such programmes makes it easier for interested parties to search for, and find programmes that are suitable for them.
Growing together from a solid base
Coordination with the AGYI is the responsibility of Engagement Global gGmbH - Service für Entwicklungsinitiativen. It is in contact with numerous stakeholders who carry out programmes and projects within the field of youth exchange and voluntary service in African countries. The AGYI is gradually developed together in close collaboration with such stakeholders in African countries and in Germany.
Benin, South Africa, and Tanzania were selected as pilot countries for establishing the African partner structure in which the AGYI has been collaborating with the civic implementation organisations Young Beninese Leaders Association (YBLA), Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), and Tanzania Youth Coalition (TYC).
Working co-operatively, acting globally
The initiative builds on what is currently in place, and promotes exchanges between various state and civic stakeholders in Germany and African countries. The initiative takes place in a dialogue-oriented, participative, and co-operative manner. Space for participation and factual discussion is created. An important objective is the promotion of a structure for a partnership of equals between Germany and African countries within the context set out in September 2015 by the Agenda 2030 international community - the new contract for the world's future.