
Students off to Germany for a 12 week stay

On 21 November, the Association of German School Societies in Namibia (AGDS) and Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Namibia, Ullrich Kinne saw off 19 students from different Windhoek schools, who were leaving on a student exchange to Germany. The AGDS, together with the Association for German Cultural Relations Abroad (VDA), has been organising a 10 to 12 week stay in Germany for students during the Namibian summer for many years. This year 19 students were chosen. The students will be accommodated in German guest families and will also visit the schools of their partners and thus get to know daily German life. They will also convey Namibian culture and lifestyle to their German friends and acquaintances. Ullrich Kinne said, “In an era of rising nationalism, isolationism and xenophobia worldwide, it is important that young people continue to build bridges between countries.” In return, the guest children from Germany will spend 6 to 8 weeks in Namibia during their summer holidays to also get to know the people and the country. The photograph shows, Cultural Counsellor in the German Embassy, Mr Ullrich Kinne (standing on the right) with the learners who are on their way to Germany as exchange students for the summer holiday.