19th-21st June 2023
Berlin, Germany
In a world increasingly interconnected yet rife with challenges, international cooperation takes on a new significance. One such collaborative effort materialized in the partner meeting orchestrated by the Afghanistan Committee from the 19th to the 21st of June 2023. Hailing from various organizations, representatives convened in Berlin, Germany, to engage in a transformative experience aimed at gaining insights into the real-life experiences of refugees in Europe.
The diverse participant roster included representatives from the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), Training Academy, the Afghanistan Committee, and Adiyaman Kultur. The meeting's agenda was thoughtfully curated, spanning three days of intensive training activities that revolved around the complex issues faced by refugees living in Germany and Belgium. This immersive program fostered a deep understanding of the struggles, triumphs, and aspirations of refugees within the EU.
Hila and other distinguished representatives from the Afghanistan Committee took up the mantle of facilitation. The meeting's unique format combined in-person interactions with online discussions, allowing refugees to share their personal experiences firsthand. The attendees were treated to a mosaic of perspectives, as refugees articulated the challenges they encounter while pursuing life and education in the EU. This sharing of narratives served as a bridge, connecting participants with the realities that refugees grapple with daily.
The program featured a roster of guest speakers, including Gul-Rahim Safi, Hila Safi, Sadem Gabbara, Hogai Stanikzai, Makwan Mohammad, Mozamel Aman, and Abdullah Saeed. Their voices lent depth and authenticity to the discussions, allowing participants to grasp the multifaceted dimensions of refugee experiences. These insights not only highlighted the struggles refugees face but also underscored their accomplishments and successes, offering a more comprehensive picture of their journey.
The meeting's culmination involved a novel approach: applying theoretical knowledge to fictitious scenarios involving refugees and migrants entering various EU countries. This exercise aimed to gauge participants' comprehension of migration laws across different nations such as the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Turkey. This interactive exercise fostered critical thinking, helping attendees navigate the complex legal landscape that refugees often encounter.
Both before and after the training sessions, participants engaged in surveys to measure their expectations and gather final reflections. These surveys encapsulated the evolving journey of the meeting, providing a glimpse into the transformational impact it had on the attendees. The collected data presented a tangible representation of the meeting's effectiveness in terms of knowledge acquisition, perspective broadening, and empathy cultivation.
As the three days drew to a close, the partner meeting by the Afghanistan Committee stood as a testament to the power of collaboration and shared understanding. It underscored the significance of offering a platform for refugees to articulate their experiences while equipping stakeholders with a holistic comprehension of their challenges. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and lived realities, this meeting ignited a spark of empathy that has the potential to ripple through policies, initiatives, and individual interactions. In a world that often accentuates differences, this event showcased the transformative potential of collective effort in fostering understanding, empathy, and positive change.