Thursday, February 26th, 2026, 6-9pm, Berlin Global Village, Am Sudhaus 2, 12053 Berlin
The chili plant plays a central role in many kitchens around the world, including in Indonesia and Mexico. During the chili cooking evening, the kitchen becomes a political space: through two typical dishes, we reflect on the relationships between taste, memory, and belonging, as well as the journey of the chili plant through today’s cities of Jakarta, Mexico City, Windhoek, and Berlin.
Die Chilipflanze ist aus den Amerikas nach Afrika, Europa sowie nach Südostasien gereist und spielt heute eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Küchen der Welt, so auch in der in der indonesischen und der mexikanischen Küche. Dieses Chili-Koch-Event ist ein praktisches Austauschformat, der die Teilnehmende dazu einlädt, über die tiefen Beziehungen zwischen Geschmack, Erinnerungen und Zugehörigkeit nachzudenken. Die Küche wird zu einem politischen Raum, in dem das Alltagsleben verhandelt wird.
Wir werden ein indonesisches und ein mexikanisches Gericht zubereiten und die Erfahrung des Kochens und gemeinsamen Essens teilen, während wir den Weg der Chili-Pflanze in den Städten Jakarta, Mexiko-Stadt, Windhoek und Berlin nachverfolgen und Geschichten über Geschmack sowie Migration austauschen.
Wir laden ein, die indonesische und mexikanische Diaspora herzustellen und das Berlin Global Village kennenzulernen. Da der Platz begrenzt ist, bitten wir um eine Anmeldung über https://eveeno.com/244413999 .
Eine Veranstaltung von Watch Indonesia! und Mexico Via Berlin im Rahmen des Städtepartnerschaftprojekts „Sister Cities in Action“, gefördert von der Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (LEZ) Berlin.
On Monday, 20 October 2025, our third and final public event in Windhoek took place at the Village Garden.
On Monday, 20 October 2025, our third and final public event ind Windhoek took place at the Village Garden. It was a networking gathering where we invited various organisations from Windhoek to exchange experiences, present their work, and explore opportunities to learn from one another.
We began by introducing our Sister Cities on Action Project, the tandem structure, along with the different formats we use in our collaborative process in Windhoek, Jakarta, Mexico-City and Berlin. Afterwards, several Windhoek-based organisations took the floor to share their work with the plenary. We focused on initiatives working in the following areas:
● Group A: Migration & Inclusive Communities ● Group B: Culture of Remembrance (in public spaces) ● Group C: Climate Crisis and Urban Adaptation Strategies
Among them, the Namibian Museums Association presented their work connecting museums across the country and developing alternative approaches inspired by the concept of “living archives – we are all living archives.”
The Umbrella Initiative also presented its activities. They connect NGOs from different sectors and run several community projects, including a pre-loved exchange programme that collects and distributes items to people in need.
Lastly, Youth4Can, a youth-led organisation that advocates for radical action on climate change and aims to build local resilience and sustainable just transition across all 14 regions of Namibia shared its initiatives and ongoing efforts.
In the second part of the event, we facilitated three thematic discussion rooms where representatives from different civil society organisations in Windhoek explored the topics more deeply. Together, they identified points of intersection, shared challenges, and developed ideas for future collaboration.
Many promising insights emerged from these conversations — but so did meaningful reflections. They reminded us that we are more connected, more resourceful, and far stronger together than we often realise. The desire to nurture and strengthen a South–South cooperation became especially visible, grounded in solidarity, mutual learning, and a shared vision for more just and resilient urban futures.
Moments like these reaffirm the importance of building multilateral networks that transcend borders, disciplines and perspectives. When communities come together with openness and curiosity, new and exciting possibilities for the future of our cities emerge — possibilities that none of us could have imagined alone.
Many thanks to everyone who took part in this meeting, and to those who contributed to making it possible. We’re really excited about what’s to come and look forward to continuing to build bridges of understanding, diversity and action with you all!
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
October marked a major milestone for international cooperation as Windhoek hosted a series of Sister Cities in Action stakeholder meetings, culminating in the 25th anniversary celebration of the Twin City partnership between Windhoek and Berlin.
The engagements brought together representatives from local government, civil society, cultural institutions, and development partners to reflect on achievements and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
The highlight of the month was the official anniversary celebration, which showcased a quarter-century of collaboration and friendship. The event reflected not only the historical significance of the partnership but also its ongoing impact—including cultural exchange programs, technical cooperation, and opportunities for shared learning between the cities.The celebrations and stakeholder sessions received strong media attention. The Namibian newspaper provided coverage, highlighting both the achievements of the project and the enthusiasm of the participating stakeholders. Complementary coverage in Berlin further amplified the importance of the partnership, emphasizing its success as a model for international city cooperation.
On Thursday, 16th of October from 8AM – 4 PM the joint network meeting on “Past, Present and Partnership” took place.
On October 16, the Sister Cities in Action coordinators had the honor of presenting our pilot project during the 25th City Partnership Anniversary between Berlin and Windhoek, organized in collaboration with the Namibia Institute for Democracy at the Windhoek Country Club. The event, held under the theme Past Present Partnership, brought together representatives from civil society, city officials, and a visiting delegation from Berlin, which included members of the Berlin Senat and the Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion herself, who delivered the closing remarks.
During the event, the Sister Cities in Action team had the unique opportunity to introduce the concept of sister cities, share a brief history of the partnership, and present the mission and activities of the initiative—highlighting who we are, what we do, and how we collaborate to address global challenges together.
At the second part of the Full-Day-Workshop we worked and discussed together in three breakout sessions on the following topics:
Group A: Memory, spaces, and urban identities
The First Group discussed the central role that creatives play in shaping memory, space and urban identity. This is why the discussion focused on securing sustainable creative funding…
Building long-term structures for artists requires resources that enable continuity rather than short-term initiatives. To support this, the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg should introduce a German–Namibian international coproduction fund, modeled on the German–Polish and German–Turkish funds. The latter is based on the Berlin–Istanbul city partnership. Such a fund would deepen cultural exchange and collaborative production. Additionally, the idea of an Arts Expo in Windhoek emerged as a key platform to connect artists and creatives, strengthen networks, and foreground the shared evolution of memory and urban identity across both regions.
Group B: Equal and strategic partnership models
The second group focused on future partnership models and what is important for achieving genuine equality. The discussion revealed the following important characteristics…
Reciprocal Mobility Equal partnerships require the ability to meet in each other’s cities; without mutual mobility, the relationship remains unbalanced.
Local Employment Institutions should employ people from the countries where they operate, ensuring local knowledge, lived experience, and skills shape the work.
Intersectional Inclusion This goes beyond representation—true partnership integrates diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise at every level (intersectionality)
Transparent Finances Open and accessible financial structures build trust and create a foundation for genuinely equal relationships.
Process-Based Funding Funding long-term processes instead of short, activity-focused projects enables sustainable change and strategic development
Group C: Youth and participatory governance
The last group took a look at Namibia’s youth and the role they play, or should play, in governance and democratic processes…
In Namibia, where unemployment is high (at 44.4% among young people in 2023), many young people struggle to meet their basic needs and often feel that political participation is out of their reach. Politics can be intimidating, and structural barriers make it difficult for young people to engage meaningfully with decision-makers. Many also feel that politics is far removed from their daily lives and that older generations rarely consider their views. Consequently, young people are often unaware that they are permitted to participate in political spaces, or these spaces are inaccessible to them. Strengthening political education and sharing accessible information are crucial steps towards inclusion. As one participant said: ‘If we always see the same people in the room, we have to change the room!’
Summary and Closing Remarks
There were many young, highly committed people there with clear ideas and demands about what kind of future they envision. One of them was encouraged by the Berlin Senator for Culture during her closing remarks to enter politics after the participant gave a passionate speech about the importance of young people’s participation in politics.
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.
16th July 2025 18:30 @ Creative Industry Institute Africa, 3 Hügel Street Windhoek
The Creative Industry Institute Africa invites you to a special evening marking 25 years of sister city partnership between Windhoek and Berlin.
Under the theme: “Creative Ties between Namibia and Germany: Opportunities and Challenges”, this event will explore the vital role of civil society and the creative sector in fostering meaningful cross-cultural dialogue and cooperation. Event Programme
This evening highlights the role of civil society and the creative sector in shaping equitable partnerships between Germany and Africa. Through artistic performances, Namibian cuisine, and open dialogue, we’ll explore the opportunities and challenges of transcontinental cultural exchange. Under the theme “Creative Ties between Germany & Namibia – Opportunities and Challenges,” the evening invites reflection on how culture, creativity, and collaboration can foster more just and inclusive futures across borders.
Program (in English – preliminary):
Panel: “Creative Ties between Germany & Namibia – Opportunities and Challenges”
Moderator: Biko Voigts
Speakers: Mark Mushiva, Joel Haikali
Spoken Word & Poetry With Genifer Habbasch & Prince Kamaazengi Marenga
Live Music With Morenga and special guests
Namibian Food & Garden Lounge at MAAYA
Beats & Bites Namibia – enjoy tastes, sounds, and conversations under the open sky.
We would be honored to celebrate this important milestone with you. Let’s gather, connect, and imagine the next 25 years—together.
At the joint network meeting with the Actions Alliance for Fair Trade (Aktionsbündnis Fairer Handel) on 10th April 2025, around 50 committed individuals from civil society, administration and economy sector came together to shed light on fair trade in the context of international city partnerships. With short pitches from Berlin, exciting video contributions from Mexico City, Jakarta and Windhoek as well as intensive workshops, a variety of impulses for sustainable cooperation were generated – locally and globally.
The participants had the opportunity to get to know the work of two Berlin networks, make contacts and jointly generate new ideas.
Whether in Berlin or in the partner cities of the Global South – the issues of sustainable economic activity and fair trade structures are relevant worldwide – and therefore offered plenty of material for an exchange of experiences and the shaping of city partnership cooperation. We approached the topic through short pitches from various Berlin fair trade actors like Karma Kollektiv and the Berlin district of Mitte.
We also gained interesting insights into the understanding of organizations like Mercado Alternativo from Mexico City, Obalihara from Jakarta and Propaganda Collective from Windhoek regarding fair and sustainable economies:
Videos der Sister Cities Jakarta, Mexico City und Windhoek
Fair Trade: What It Means and Looks Like for Namibia Networking Session | February 21, 2025
The Creative Industry Institute Africa (CIIA) hosted two insightful networking sessions on 21st of February 2025 exploring what fair trade means in the Namibian context. Key discussions highlighted the need for a national fair trade framework, noting the inequality in economic opportunities and the undervaluation of creative work.
Participants emphasized the importance of consumer education, fair pricing, support for marginalized creatives, and the creation of a centralized Namibian Fair Trade brand. Trade shows, while valuable, were seen as unequal due to financial disparities among creatives.
Recommendations included establishing a Fair Trade Association, developing fair trade policies, enhancing access to markets, and launching awareness campaigns. The session concluded with a proposal to host a follow-up dialogue focused on forming a fair trade body within the creative sector.
In September 2024 a 12-day stakeholder meeting was held in Berlin with the 7 coordinators from all 4 cities. During the meeting, the main focus was on getting to know each other personally as well as our different contexts and organizations. On this basis, we then held intensive working sessions to gather initial ideas for the content priorities in the three tandems and for the project as a whole..
Workshop at the “24/7 Berlin Global Justice” Conference
The newly founded coordinator team- held a public workshop at the “24/7 Berlin Global Justice” with the broad title “Decolonization and socio-ecological transformation in Jakarta, Mexico City, Windhoek and Berlin”. It brought all four cities into direct dialogue with each other for the first time. The coordinators from the three partner cities presented key challenges in their respective cities. The exchange with each other, but also with the Berlin audience, crystallized where similarities and differences exist, e.g. on topics such as migration, climate impacts and processes of decolonization within urban spaces
Kick-Off Networking Event
We also organized a large kick-off networking event. The event attracted 60 different actors from the fields of education/science, decolonization, sports and culture, climate and environment, district and Berlin state administration as well as some individuals. After we presented the key goals of the model project, a lively exchange took place within the three tandems: Berlin-Mexico City, Berlin-Windhoek, Berlin-Jakarta.
Meeting the State Secretary Mr Biel
In addition to the public events, there were also smaller meetings with civil society actors, a meeting with the State Secretary Mr. Biel from the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises and an evaluation of the entire 12-day stakeholder meeting.
The opportunity to get to know each other personally in Berlin was a great added value for the project, especially so early on in the process. This enabled important foundations and principles of cooperation to be laid (Code of Conduct) and could be successively deepened after the meeting.
