Tuesday, April 28, 6–8 PM at MotionLab Berlin(Bouchéstraße 12, Hall 20, 12435 Berlin)
What connects Kottbusser Tor—beloved by some and avoided by others—with Jakarta, a lively metropolis of 42 million people?
What does contemporary music by Namibian artists tell us about the city partnership between Berlin and Windhoek?
How do we experience remembrance culture in Mexico City when visiting a mural in Haus Schwarzenberg on Rosenthaler Str.?
The new Sister Cities Audiowalks take an unusual perspective through the streets and neighborhoods of Berlin, uncovering surprising connections between the sister cities. During the launch, we will provide insights into the development process of the three audio tours and listen together to selected excerpts. Afterwards, we invite you to an open discussion and networking.
The project was developed in cooperation with the Berlin Project Center and is part of “Sister Cities in Action.” Its aim is to make city partnerships tangible, to highlight global challenges and initiatives that adress these within the urban context.
We warmly invite you to discover the audiowalks, join the discussion, and explore Berlin from new perspectives.
In English, no registration required.
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Vier Städte, drei Spaziergänge, ein Berlin
Dienstag, 28. April, 18 – 20 Uhr im MotionLab Berlin (Bouchéstrasse 12, Halle 20, 12435 Berlin)
Was verbindet das Kottbusser Tor – von manchen geliebt und von anderen gemieden – mit Jakarta, einer lebhaften Metropole von 42 Millionen Menschen?
Was verrät uns zeitgenössische Musik namibischer Künstler*innen über die Städtepartnerschaft zwischen Berlin und Windhoek?
Wie erleben wir Erinnerungskultur in Mexiko-Stadt, wenn wir ein Wandgemälde im Haus Schwarzenberg in der Rosenthaler Str. besuchen?
Die neuen Sister Cities Audiowalks führen mit einer ungewöhnten Perspektive durch Straßen und Kieze Berlins und spüren dabei überraschenden Verbindungen zwischen den Partnerstädten nach. Beim Launch geben wir Einblicke in den Entwicklungsprozess der drei Audiotouren und hören gemeinsam in ausgewählte Ausschnitte hinein. Im Anschluss laden wir zu einer offenen Diskussion und zum Networking ein.
Das Projekt wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Berlin Project Center entwickelt und ist Teil von „Sister Cities in Action.“ Ziel ist es, Städtepartnerschaften greifbar zu machen und globale Herausforderungen sowie Initiativen, die diese im städtischen Kontext adressieren, hervorzuheben.
Wir laden Sie herzlich ein, die Audiowalks zu entdecken, an der Diskussion teilzunehmen und Berlin aus neuen Perspektiven zu erkunden.
During the Stakeholders Meeting in October, the Sister Cities in Action team had the opportunity to visit the organisation ‘Family of Hope Services’ in Katutura, a neighbourhood shaped by a history of resistance and community-building in Windhoek. We were accompanied by Foibe, the centre’s director, and Elizabeth, one of the girls who benefits from the project. They showed us around a place that embodies dignity, care and opportunity.
Foibe and Elizabeth – Photo: Valeria Peña
From the very beginning, we understood that Family of Hope Services is more than just a community centre; it is a place where children’s human rights are upheld and respected every day. Every action here aims to guarantee the rights to education, food, play, holistic development, and a safe and nurturing environment in which to grow up.
Foibe shared the history of the project, explaining how it has evolved into a powerful community-driven response to the challenges faced by numerous families in Katutura. Many of these families are migrants from other regions of Namibia, as well as from Angola, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Instead of starting from a place of lack, they recognise the potential of every child and adolescent. The goal is not merely to “assist”, but to facilitate processes of empowerment and autonomy.
One of the classrooms – Photo: Valeria Peña
Among their core initiatives is educational support, which serves children and teenagers—many of them migrants without national documentation who are therefore unable to attend formal school. At the community center, they receive academic assistance, strengthen their learning, and develop essential skills that help them stay engaged and thrive. The organization also supports families in obtaining official documents so that these children can access the education system. This work goes beyond academic content; it fosters confidence, curiosity, and a genuine desire to learn, opening real pathways toward inclusion and opportunity.
Preschool classroom and educational materials in English – Photos: Valeria Peña and Silvana Almaraz
One of the most meaningful spaces is the community kitchen, which provides nutritious daily meals for the children involved in the project. The kitchen is more than just a place to receive food; it is also a space for gathering and collective care, where sharing a meal becomes an act of community.
The project also runs a community garden to strengthen food security and serve as a living educational tool. Participants learn about sustainability, collaboration and caring for the land there. Every seed planted represents a commitment to the present and the future.
Community garten – Photo: Valeria Peña
In addition, Family of Hope Services has developed a bicycle repair and sales workshop, combining hands-on training and technical skill-building with economic sustainability. The workshop supports mobility and environmental care, and represents a concrete strategy to strengthen the organisation’s financial autonomy and increase its impact on the community.
Bycicle Workshop – Photo: Valeria Peña
Walking through these spaces with Elizabeth was a deeply meaningful experience. Seeing her attentive gaze, enthusiasm and confidence as she showed us what was being built there reminded us that children flourish when they grow up in environments that recognise their rights and nurture their abilities. These are not stories of victimhood, but of growth supported by respect and love.
Elizabeth – Photo: Valeria Peña
For Sister Cities in Action, this visit reaffirmed the importance of fostering connections between organisations dedicated to social justice and human rights, both internationally and across continents. These connections enable the exchange of knowledge, strengthen strategies and expand solidarity networks that transcend borders. When organisations from different regions engage in dialogue and collaboration, their capacity for impact and care is multiplied.
In a world where inequalities still impede the realisation of rights, spaces like Family of Hope Services remind us that transformation is possible when communities organise and maintain their commitment over time.
We are deeply grateful to Foibe and Elizabeth for generously and transparently opening the doors to this space. We leave feeling inspired and enriched by new insights, certain that the bonds we forge today will continue to bear fruit tomorrow.
México vía Berlín and Casa Tochan members with Fobie and Elizabeth from Family of Hope.
If you would like to learn more about their work and support this project, please visit the website of Familiy of Hope. Every contribution helps to ensure that more children in Katutura can continue to grow up in an environment that protects their rights and cultivates hope.
Historic album of Family of Hope – Photo: Valeria Peña
A conversation with Berliner Entwicklungspolitischer Ratschlag about the Stakeholdermeeting in Windhoek, our experiences, challenges in collaboration, and the traces of colonialism.
In November 2026, Berliner Entwicklungspolitischer Ratschlag had a conversation with Rosa López (overall coordination) and Carola von der Dick (Berlin-Jakarta Tandem) about the Stakeholdermeeting in Windhoek and asked to reflect on our visit, our experiences, challenges in collaboration, and the traces of colonialism.
BER: One pillar of the model project Sister Cities in Action are regular in-person meetings. You recently met in Windhoek, Namibia. What is the purpose of these joint working meetings, and how was the local response?
Rosa López: A key goal is to build long-term relationships. Personal encounters allow for an exchange that is nearly impossible online, especially across multiple time zones. You get to know each other, develop ideas, and reflect on the past collaboration. This time, it was particularly significant to create spaces for South-South encounters. Many participants from Windhoek emphasized how valuable the direct exchange with colleagues from Jakarta and Mexico City was. There’s great interest in independent cooperation among partners from the Global South, which doesn’t always have to go through Berlin.
Another focus was to gain knowledge about Windhoek, especially in the context of colonial history. We also had many discussions with local organizations about potential collaborations. Our partners in Windhoek organized an impressive program for this.
Carola von der Dick: The local civil society expressed clear expectations, especially concerning unequal access to visas. Since it is often not even possible to get an appointment at the German embassy in Namibia for a visa application, a massive imbalance arises in shaping the partnership. Equal collaboration also means equal opportunities for mobility.
BER: In Germany, there is currently a lot of discussion about the restitution of the German genocide against the Herero and Nama and about reparations. How visible is this history in Windhoek?
Rosa López: The colonial past is omnipresent. For me, it’s unimaginable not to perceive it —unless you move within purely white tourism structures that obscure much. The moment people realized that part of our group is from Germany, the topic was immediately brought up: Many people talked about their origins, the genocide, or addressed Germany’s role directly. The historical consciousness is strong, and the expectation that German visitors engage with this history is equally strong.
Carola von der Dick: The many German street names, like Bergstraße and Hügelstraße, are particularly striking, even though several streets have already been renamed. The debates sometimes resemble those in Berlin: some argue that renaming would make historical references invisible, while others strongly advocate renaming. However, the contexts in which these discussions occur are of course different. More exchange between initiatives in Berlin and Windhoek would be beneficial. Many people in Germany don’t even know the country Namibia or its capital, Windhoek. And there is still too little in Berlin that reminds us of this colonial past.
BER: Where are colonial continuities particularly evident in everyday life today?
Rosa López: A central example is tourism, where colonial power structures persist. Among other things, due to historical land distribution, around 90 percent of tourist infrastructure is currently in white hands. Tourist offers from Black Namibians are hardly visible—you have to actively search for them. Those who want to travel consciously should pay attention to where they book, from whom they rent a car, and whom they support.
Carola von der Dick: In all of Namibia, about 70 percent of agricultural land belongs to white commercial farms, even though people of German descent make up only around one to two percent of the population. This shows how extremely unequal power and resources are distributed. Additionally, there’s the historical “Red Line,” which economically and socially divides Namibia to this day: the predominantly white south and the predominantly Black north have very different access to land, markets, and income. These colonial border demarcations continue to resonate today.
Rosa López: This separation is also visible in Windhoek itself. The inner-city areas are predominantly white, while Black people predominantly work there. Many live in outlying districts that were historically segregated. The continuity from German colonialism to the apartheid system is palpable and independence in 1990 is not far behind. Structural changes take time.
Carola von der Dick: There are movements addressing the land issue. At the same time, it’s a sensitive topic, especially because negative experiences have been made in neighboring countries, such as with international sanctions following land redistributions.
The Sister Cities in Action Team meets Dina Graf and Ndelitunga Shikongeni, the ambassadors of the 25th Year Twin Cities Berlin-Windhoek celebration. Foto credits: @Willem Vrey
BER: During your trip, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner was also in Windhoek. He spoke about combating youth unemployment in Namibia through training programs for the German job market. How do you assess this approach from a civil society perspective?
Carola von der Dick: This can also be seen as a colonial continuity. As far as we know, the training project in question does not aim to create jobs in Namibia that would benefit the country itself. Instead, it seeks to train young people for the German job market and bring them to Berlin.
Rosa López: Of course, one must differentiate: for some, staying in Germany is an opportunity. But the problem begins with the lack of local prospects. If the only option lies abroad, it is an expression of existing global inequalities, not a solution. Solutions need to be sought elsewhere.
Youth unemployment in Namibia stands at around 45 percent. Some young people are very engaged, politically interested, and articulate clear demands to the government, yet they lack the opportunities to include these demands directly in political processes. A major issue is the strengthening of political education: many do not know what rights they have or in which political spaces they could engage. Before young people can become politically active, existential questions often take precedence.
BER: What collaborations will you be pursuing next?
Carola von der Dick: To support youth in both countries, we have planned a sports exchange with the youth organization Physically Active Youth (PAY).
Rosa López: Next year, we will focus on the theme of commemoration culture—taking impulses from Windhoek and expanding the dialogue around this with all three partner cities. Additionally, to address the structural exclusion of LGBTIQ individuals in Namibia and Germany, there will soon be a stronger exchange with Equal Namibia, an organization that works on LGBTIQ rights.
As part of the ongoing Sister Cities in Action initiative, Windhoek recently hosted an insightful event focused on Memory in Public Spaces, bringing together creatives, community voices, historians, and city stakeholders to reflect on how our urban landscape tells — and sometimes fails to tell — our collective story.
What if our cities truly reflected who we are? This question guided the discussion as participants explored how Windhoek can honour all its cultures, histories, and futures. The goal is not simply to replace what exists, but to complete what is missing, ensuring every Namibian can walk tall, knowing their identity and dignity are represented in the spaces around them.
Key reflections from the session included:
Honest engagement with existing monuments, buildings, and symbols, and what they communicate about our past.
Recognizing stories that have been erased, overlooked, or ignored, and the importance of restoring them to public memory.
Empowering communities and creatives to tell histories with dignity through art, design, storytelling, and cultural expression.
Imagining beyond the present, using creativity, public art, and film to inspire what Windhoek could become.
A clear message emerged: we need more open discourse and thoughtful debate around memory, representation, and identity in public space. To shape a future that reflects us all, we must define our values, establish guiding principles, and understand why we are building and transforming our city in the ways we choose.
This event marks another meaningful step in strengthening dialogue between Windhoek and Berlin and in building a cityscape that honours the past while inspiring a shared and inclusive future.
Investigating the Evolving Role of Public Spaces in Windhoek: From Colonial Legacies to Inclusive Urban Futures. Public spaces shape how we meet, connect, celebrate, and belong. In Windhoek, these spaces carry complex histories, yet they also hold potential for more inclusive futures.
Join us for a dynamic conversation where panelists reflect on: Colonial planning and its lasting spatial legacies Efforts toward naming and renaming public spaces How we can design cities that reflect all communities What inclusive, accessible, people-centered public space can look like
This event brings together experts and the public for meaningful dialogue and shared learning.
🗓️14th November 🕒 6pm 📍 Creative Industry Institute Africa, 3 Hügel Street 🎟️ Free & open to the public
Let’s imagine and shape the future of our city together
The Sister Cities in Action project coordinators from Berlin, Mexico City, and Jakarta arrived in Windhoek and was warmly welcomed to the offices of Creative Industry Institute Africa (CIIA) for the very first time.
This visit marks the beginning of two weeks of stakeholder engagements and internal sessions, as we meet in person to strengthen collaboration and chart the next phase of the Sister Cities in Action Project.
To celebrate this milestone, CIIA hosted a welcoming braai and networking event in true Namibian style! The gathering offered us an opportunity to ease into the busy weeks ahead, while also connecting with the CIIA team and members of Namibia’s vibrant civil society sector.
The event brought together representatives from organizations including the Umbrella Initiative, Physically Active Namibia, Goethe-Institut Namibia, Equal Namibia, Namibia Institute for Democracy, The Namibia Craft Centre, as well as officials from the City of Windhoek and City of Berlin, among others.
The evening was a great success, serving as both an ice-breaker and a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and cultural exchange. It set an inspiring tone for the days ahead, as our coordinators embark on a journey of learning, partnership, and shared purpose.
Stay tuned for updates from the upcoming sessions and engagements as we continue building stronger creative bridges between Berlin, Windhoek, Mexico City, and Jakarta under the Sister Cities in Action initiative.
A documentary film on immigration, belonging, and creative activism.
Set in Berlin and New York, FROM HERE is a hopeful story of four young artists and activists from immigrant families redefining belonging in an era of rising nationalism globally.The protagonists move from their 20s into their 30s and face major turning points in their lives: fighting for citizenship, starting families, and finding room for creative expression.
The film screening will be followed by a discussion with:
Canan Turan, ideologiy-critical film scholar & creative producer of the films (Berlin) Victoria Kumala Sakti, sozial and cultur anthropologist (Jakarta) Karl Ehlers, artist and journalist (Windhoek) Liz Soto Rivas, activist and founder of Latinas en Alemania (Mexiko-City).
25 Years of Creative Ties: Celebrating Windhoek–Berlin Partnership and Reflecting on Opportunities and Challenges
The Sister Cities in Action anniversary event marked a significant milestone—celebrating 25 years of creative collaboration between Windhoek and Berlin. The event opened with a powerful screening of the documentary “Confronting Colonial Pasts – Envisioning Creative Futures”, produced by Joe Vision Production in collaboration with the Museums Association of Namibia, Ethnographic Museum of Berlin and other stakeholders. The film focused on the historic repatriation of 23 cultural artifacts returned to Namibia, a poignant reminder of the complex and often painful shared history between the two countries.
Following the screening, a panel discussion was moderated by Patric Sam and featured key voices of panelists included:
Naita Hishoono, Director at the Namibia Institute for Democracy, with extensive experience in collaborations between Namibia and Germany.
Maria Caley, a fashion designer and lecturer at the University of Namibia, bringing insights from the creative and academic sectors.
Tuli Mekondjo, a renowned multidisciplinary artist who has exhibited in various countries across the world including Germany
The discussion explored the creative ties forged over the past quarter-century, as well as the challenges and opportunities shaping this cross-cultural partnership.
It was acknowledged that the dark and complicated history linking Namibia and Germany remains a critical backdrop to all collaborative efforts. This shared past cannot be overlooked; however, much progress has been made in building meaningful and successful partnerships during the past 25 years.
A significant challenge highlighted by the panel is the absence of a formal framework in Namibia to govern partnerships and collaborations with foreign entities, particularly those from Germany. This gap often leads to unbalanced and non-transparent arrangements. For example, differences in labor regulations mean that German workers may be paid according to German standards, while Namibian counterparts, lacking a comparable framework, receive considerably lower remuneration. This lack of clarity also extends to local Namibian collaborators who find it difficult to negotiate fair terms without established guidelines.
The panel emphasized the critical need for transparency on both sides to foster trust and equity. It was also noted that Namibian collaborators must clearly define their objectives and expectations in partnerships, especially when funding originates from external sources, where funders often hold greater influence.
Access to information—including budgets and decision-making processes, is essential to leveling the playing field and ensuring fair collaboration.
Equally important was a deep urge for Namibians to clearly understand what they want and need before entering collaborations. Knowing and articulating clear objectives is key to ensuring fair and equitable partnerships.
Creatives at the event expressed hope for more inclusivity and open sharing of information regarding collaborative projects, noting that many events tend to circulate within the same groups and are not always accessible to the broader creative community. This is an area identified for improvement moving forward.
The event was attended by over 70 people, including a delegation from the City of Windhoek and representatives from the House of Parliament of Berlin. Additionally, various local stakeholders, creatives and the general public also participated, underscoring the wide interest and investment in the continued partnership between the two cities.
Overall, the event served as both a celebration of 25 years of creative exchange and a call to action for more equitable, transparent, and structured partnerships moving forward between Windhoek and Berlin.
