1st Generation Empowerment & Networking
A community gathering at EOTO e.V. bringing first-generation people of African descent in Germany into conversation with younger generations around migration, education, language, rights, culture, technology, and collective advancement.
On 22 April 2023, EOTO e.V. hosted the 1st Generation Empowerment & Networking event in Berlin, welcoming 55 participants for an afternoon of dialogue, food, and exchange. The gathering created space for first-generation African-descendant community members in Germany to share experiences of arrival, education, work, family, and social life, while also encouraging second and future generations to learn from those journeys.
The programme opened with networking and refreshments before moving into welcome remarks from Elizabeth Taylor and Karen Taylor, who introduced the purpose of the gathering and shared EOTO’s history, vision, and community work. Moderated by Dr. Priscilla Manjohs, the event brought together Prof. Koudzo S. Kumlanvi, Dr. Christian Ayivi, Pastor Epah Elad, and Ato Weittey Agyeman-Weittey.
Across the keynote, panel, and audience exchange, speakers returned to a shared question: how can African-descendant communities in Germany strengthen themselves while also shaping the society they live in? Contributions addressed the value of knowing African roots, learning German as a bridge into education and social life, using technology for sustainable development, building unity across the community, supporting young people’s educational choices, and pursuing representation in politics, public administration, and the economy.
The event closed with dinner and further networking. Participants described the gathering as informative and meaningful, with several asking for similar events to be held regularly. The report notes that the event achieved its goal: creating a room for testimony, practical advice, intergenerational learning, and community connection.