My visit to Germany ( 11 September - 11 October 2004)

Dominic Bara

My one month visit to Germany was hectic as well as exciting. More than a dozen  programmes were awaiting  me in Germany. The exciting part was that I had to travel to all parts of Germany from Berlin to Emden in the North West to Bonn and Colone in the West to Stuttgart in the South.

I attended mainly 3 seminars : 1. U R M conference " Perspectives of people in struggle. Strategies and experience of  community organising and Empowerment" - 13 to 17 September. 2. Adivasi Coordination workshop in" Development and Self-determination ", 1-2 October 2004 and  3. Participation of Board meeting of Gossner Mission, Berlin.

I participated in the seminar and workshop as speaker on the topics " Community Empowerment - A conception of a sustainable development" and " A ruined universe and multiple forms of resistance - on the strength of Adivasi social organisation".

I was very much impressed by the hospitality of the German people and I would like to thank them all more particularly to 

Rev. Bernd Krause & Rev. Tobias Tresler & staff members of Gossner Mission.
Mr. Michael Sturm and Rev. Michael Schaper for showing around Emden.
Mrs. & Dr. Retzlaff for fine hospitality in the family
Rev. Wolf-Dieter Schmelter for showing around Detmold
Ms Dorothy for showing around Stuttgart.
Rev Heinz Friedrick for company in the train
Dr. Klaus Roeber for showing around Berlin & the East .
Rev. Ernst Gottfried Buntrock & Alex and his friend for company.
Mr. Joey Lakra of Colone for all he did for me.
and many others as well. Thank you.