Network Conference Southern Africa – Germany: Our losses and gains because of Covid-19

We are a growing community of persons working in partnership programs, be it between schools in SADC countries and Germany, universities, NGOs, church-based organizations, municipalities, etc. In one way or another, we have all been active in solidarity work over many years.

The SADC region contains a lot of multifaceted, consequential (colonial) histories that have shaped and are still shaping relations to this very day. In addition, people have experienced discrimination and exclusion during times of crisis, before and after national independence or during globalization. Bearing in mind that for the Germans among us, 8th May is an important date. It marks the end of WWII as sur-render or liberation – depending on the perspective which always has influenced our solidarity work. But the historical links from Germany to Southern Africa have weakened, the Anti-Apartheid movement which united many from East and West has been superseded by subsequent movements aiming to combat other evils in German society and beyond: right wing nationalism, xenophobia, racism, Semitism, Zionism, etc.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many of our activities, events and travels were cancelled. We have been forced to think out of the box, to explore new ways of expressing our commitment to strengthen and expand our activities. The different ways in which we were affected by the pandemic sensitized us once again for issues which affect our lives economically, socially and politically irrespective of the country we live in.

As Solidarity Network, consisting of members from the SADC region and Germany, we want to hold our first SGSN conference in May - online, due to travel restrictions.

Our losses and gains because of Covid-19

On 8 May we want to create a space for discussions and get-together to reflect on the losses and the gains which Covid-19 has brought about for us, but above all for our partnerships. The conference offers a (first) possibility of establishing contact and informal networking for individuals and organizations who are involved in various areas or partnerships or who promote the exchange of pupils and students.

Speakers

Father Michael Lapsley, Anglican and social justice activist. He was part of the struggle against apartheid. In 1990 he lost both his hands and an eye because of a letter bomb attack. In 1998 he founded the Institute for Healing of Memories (IHOM).
Ms Colleen Cunningham, Unity Women's Sub Desk Coordinator for the Moravian Women's As-sociation in South Africa (MCSA), Regional Coordinator for Women in Church and Society for LUCSA.
Rev. Heike Bosien, Executive Director of Service for Mission, Ecumenism and Development (DiMOE) in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Württemberg, Germany, a service for global learning in congregations and schools.

Register with a video clip (Whatsapp or the like)

In order to really see you, we would love you to send us a One-Minute-video in which you report about yourself, your partnership, your losses and gains by Covid-19.

The video-clip should be not more than 1 minute, with us by April 16 and be sent to simone.knapp[at]kasa.de.

Find more information here.