Last Wednesday evening marked a memorable occasion, as we gathered at IL KINO Berlin for the final event of our three-year “I Am European” EU project. The evening was dedicated to exploring themes of integration and diversity in Germany today.
The event celebrated the 5 year anniversary of the release of our Rethinking Us & Them: Integration and Diversity in Europe series exploring integration and diversity from the academic, practitioner, and personal perspectives. This series is also available as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the iversity MOOC platform, with over 5000 course-takers to-date.
The evening’s program began with a screening of selected videos from our Rethinking Us & Them series before it launched into a panel discussion.
The panel discussion
The panel featured an inspiring group of speakers sharing their unique perspectives and experiences, many as newcomers to Germany themselves. These included Hafiza Hamoud, Community Manager at Verband Deutsch-Syrischer Hilfsvereine e.V., who brought her expertise supporting Syrian civil society to the table. Chiponda Chimbelu, a journalist at Deutsche Welle focusing on diversity and inclusion, offered insights from his work in media. Mine Nang, from Give Something Back to Berlin e.V., discussed her efforts in supporting refugees and migrants with the German bureaucracy. And Dr. Jihad Alabdullah, a psychiatrist specializing in mental health services for migrants and Founder of Manzoul e.V., shared his insights into the challenges faced by the Syrian diaspora in Germany. Our co-founder Sophia Burton moderated the discussion.
The panelists engaged with an enthusiastic audience, sparking thought-provoking discussions on inclusive storytelling and the importance of counter-narratives in shaping public perception positively.
If you missed the event, but are interested in delving into topics of integration and diversity, our online video series here offers a wealth of insights from experts and those directly affected by these issues.
Looking ahead, we aim to continue hosting events that foster dialogue and understanding around these topics. If you have ideas or would like to collaborate on future screenings or workshops, please reach out to us at team@migrationmatters.me. Your engagement and support are crucial, as we work towards creating a more inclusive society.
Discussion & networking after the panel discussion
Thank you to everyone who attended the event, asked questions, and shared their perspectives. Your participation made the evening truly special and impactful.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our co-hosts MitOst e.V. and our partner Verband Deutsch-Syrischer Hilfsvereine e.V. (Association of German-Syrian NGOs), for their invaluable support in making this event possible. Thank you also to IL KINO Berlin, one of our favorite cinemas in the city where we have held numerous screening events.
This event was made possible with funding from the European Commission and is part of the “I Am European” DEAR project.
Photos by Allan Whyte