A conference weekend on organizational development in Leipzig
Although most of the in-person meetings of the association "Kinderdorf Mbigili e.V." traditionally take place in the Lower Rhine region—where the activities for Mbigili first began—this time we gathered for a full weekend in Leipzig in August. Over the past two years, a small group of the next generation of Mbigili activists has formed here. The weekend provided us with space for personal exchange, the further development of our work, the digitalization of our association’s activities, and the creation of new ideas. The venue was the Karl Schubert School in southern Leipzig.
Faraja, a Tanzanian living in Germany, took care of the catering and delighted us with fantastic food: rice and beans, chapati (similar to naan), fresh salad, and pilau (spiced rice). No one left the table hungry!
After a long and intense Saturday filled with productive work, we ended the day together. Many of the topics we had discussed and debated during the day continued to resonate, shaping our conversations well into the evening.
On Sunday morning, a special highlight was on the agenda: a guided tour of the Grassi Museum of Ethnography. The visit offered us a glimpse into the origins of colonialism, including its impact on Tanzania. We had the opportunity to view a small selection from the museum’s extensive collection of African artifacts from both West and East Africa. The experience touched on historical periods past, as well as current discussions surrounding political and historical questions—such as how the museum addresses the repatriation of objects that were once stolen.
This visit to the museum was not only interesting for us, but also important. As an association active in North-South cooperation, it is very important for us to remain aware of our own role.
Best regards, the Leipzig Section