On 14th October 2023, on a dedicated formal visit to Berlin, the AG-Career Hub Team met His Excellency Tom Amolo, E.B.S., Kenya’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.
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| Joy Wendo (left), Susan Dettmer, Ass. Ambassador Dr. Esther Mungai, HE Ambassador Tom Amolo, Caroline Mwangi, Boniface Mwangi (right) |
The main purpose of the visit was to discuss how to strengthen partnerships in academia and business, focusing on leveraging the diverse talents of Kenyan Professionals in the Diaspora together with other stakeholders to support the initiatives between Germany and Kenya. Click here for more insights about our visit: >>Gallery
The Role of the Kenyan Diaspora in Germany: Deepening Initiatives to enhance community and prosperity.
“AG-Career Hub” is a renowned diaspora initiative entity founded by Kenyan Professionals based in Germany, with a key focus of establishing solid, sustainable linkages to facilitate partnerships and collaborations with companies, universities and diaspora communities in Germany and in Kenya.
During the meeting, critical issues like tapping on the expertise of Kenyans in the diaspora, “brain train” and skills transfer, investment opportunities, tapping on vital technologies for African markets and the acute labour shortage in Germany, as well as the potential for the German government to tap into Kenyan talents, were thoroughly examined. The focus remained on fostering collaborations together with the diaspora that would yield mutual benefits, emphasizing the significance of implementing smart sourcing strategies that would create win-win situations.
“The focus remained on tapping on the expertise of the Kenyans in the diaspora in fostering collaborations that would yield mutual benefits, emphasizing the significance of implementing smart sourcing strategies that would create win win situations.”
A shining example of this collaborative spirit is the fledgling, but robust partnership between Hochschule Koblenz and Mount Kenya University, an initiative spearheaded by AG-Career Hub. This partnership stands out as a compelling example of what the Kenyan Diaspora can champion. Tapping on suitable technologies from Germany has also been a success under AG-Career Hub. The recent partnership with Mr. Signal Technologies, a company based in Nürnberg, has been pilot projects in the education sectors in Kenya being implemented using the technology.
The team also emphasized the crucial role of initiatives like the “Brain Train Concept”, a platform designed to impart technical and soft skills to graduates and professionals seeking employment opportunities. The concept, a key component of AG-Career Hub, was lauded for its efforts in bridging the skills gap and facilitating smoother access to the job market.
Moreover, a notable highlight of the event was His Excellency Tom Amolo's heartfelt recognition of the thriving engagements and active involvement within the vibrant Kenyan communities in Germany. He expressed a strong appreciation for the pivotal role played by the ‘Brain Train Concept” in imparting essential technical and social skills to young professionals seeking opportunities in Germany. This acknowledgment highlighted the initiative's important role in developing a skilled workforce for jobs in Germany. The Brain Train taps on the expertise of the members who trained in Germany and are ready to mentor young professionals cover the skills gap needed to be competitive in the global market locally and internationally. As an aside, Ambassador Amolo spoke passionately about the plight of the “boychild” and expressed the hope that sustainable programmes would be curated for their benefit.
“Professionals who have already acquired diverse skills ranging from tech to business skills do analysis of the skills gap and then offer various trainings to help people looking for jobs have an easier access into the job market.”
The discussion surrounding the “Diaspora Investment Desk” gained significant traction, emphasizing the critical reasons and effective strategies for Kenyans living abroad to diversify their investment portfolios across various sectors in Germany and in Kenya. Notably, the desk highlighted the pivotal role of such diversification in mitigating risks, ensuring long-term financial stability, and concurrently serving as a means for the Kenyan diaspora to contribute to the growth and development of their home country. Emphasizing the potential impact of diaspora investments, the desk accentuated their role in fostering economic development, creating job opportunities, and propelling sustainable progress across diverse sectors in Kenya. Projects like WIDU.Africa, where diaspora mobilisation has been a key portfolio on AG-Career Hub diaspora investment desk, has strongly tapped on the expertise of Africans in the diaspora in Europe in executing the projects in partner countries in Africa. WIDU.Africa is an initiative by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, that has contributed greatly to supporting businesses in Kenya and other partner countries in Africa.
The Kenyan Ambassador also recognized the vital pivotal role of the Diaspora Investment Desk in facilitating a more prosperous and stable financial future for Kenyans living abroad. He commended the desk for its efforts in encouraging diversified investments, underscoring its potential to foster economic growth and development in Kenya.
His Excellency's warm reception and acknowledgment served to foster a strong sense of unity and belonging among the Kenyan Diaspora in Germany, making his stay in Berlin particularly amiable.
The AG-Career Hub team expressed profound gratitude for His Excellency's unwavering support and active participation as a keynote speaker in all their physical and virtual events. During the visit, both the AG-Career Hub and the Ambassador identified the need for further enhancement of Kenyan engagements, emphasizing the pivotal role these efforts play in cultivating mutually beneficial collaborations between Germany and Kenya, as well as within the German community itself. The team extended their deepest appreciation to the Kenyan Embassy, led by His Excellency Tom Amolo and his assistant, Dr. Esther Mungai, for their commendable efforts and dedication in service of the Kenyan people in Germany.
Author and Editor,
Joy Wendo, Data Manager, AG-Career Hub