My Motivation to Study Intercultural Theology, Migration and Global Cooperation

When I tell friends or relatives that I plan to study "Intercultural Theology, Migration and Global Cooperation (ITMGZ)", I often hear the following reaction: "Oh, this really suits you well because your intercultural spirituality values and desire to foster long-lasting development and cooperation relations makes you the perfect candidate for this program". Is it? I want through this academic study learn more about how I can concretely contribute to dealing with global challenges like political turmoil and failed cross-culture and violent cross-border relations that is partly the cause of mass-migrations and to learn how to devise lasting and sustainable development solutions to dealing with global challenges that can work for multiple regions for example between “Global-North” & the “Global-South”. I want to reflect on the practice to which I already have some insights in Germany and in Uganda.

I am convinced that studying “ITMGZ” will empower me to bring about change to struggling communities. It will also enable me to learn the knowledge and skills that allow me to contribute to a global society based on International Cooperation, Intercultural theological values and Civic Engagement. I am especially keen to learn about advocating for equal opportunities for all in a developing world especially that the degree program relates to my practical experiences in my previous career which fits well with my professional goals.

Before my one-and-a-half year peace service that I did in Germany, I have been active in addressing the local challenge of poverty reduction, violent against minorities through values of Christian love but now I want to take a step further, to understand more, to be able to change something in the long term. While I was studying Business Administration and Management, it was clear to me that I needed to do more than aiming at having a job. I surely could never bare the status-quo. Hence my decision to initiate the non-profit non-governmental organisation “Ability Beyond the Iris” in my home country Uganda that aims at finding working solutions for the challenges I have experienced myself.

Towards the end of my undergraduate studies and “Ability Beyond the Iris” work and other local NGOs, my special interest arose in development and cooperation, in diplomacy, peace and conflict studies with focus on the African continent and its interactions with Europe. I decided to travel to Germany for one and a half year of International Volunteer Service with EIRENE International Christian Peace Service in which I was able to further understand the topics of non-violent conflict transformation and development cooperation between the countries of the global south and the global north. This was possible because I participated in different seminars such as:

• How do the Development and Cooperation Policies work between Developing Countries and the Developed ones?
• Diversity and Social Justice trainings
• European Social Political Relations with a focus on the European Union Relations with other European non-member states
• Political Education with a focus on the role of the volunteer and development helpers in the global south.

I also participated in seminars on gender-based violence and the influence of "Africa stereotypes" on German society and German international cooperation. As part of my volunteer work, I was also a speaker for peacebuilding and anti-discrimination workshops at the Wilhelm-Remy Gymnasium Bendorf. I was able to provide insights into the political conflict analysis from a global perspective, focussing on the relationship between Ugandan and German communities on governance and development levels.

During my volunteer work at EIRENE International Christian Peace Service, I became more and more aware of the importance of levelled grounds in development cooperation and peace work and my career aspirations as part of the change makers that are reflective on how diversity and intercultural relations can contribute to a peaceful developed world took shape. Talking to current or former EIRENE peace experts, a relative of mine working with UN in Lebanon, friends working in embassies and consulates and even exchanging with our partners from Latin America I was able to gain extensive insights into the practice of work on a global level. I am indeed fascinated by the option to contribute to this field of work.

I have gained extensive practical experience in the application of different pedagogical methods as part of my work at the Institute of Educational Science, during my internship at “Behinderung und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit e.V” (bezev) Essen and as Member of the Pedagogical Team at EIRENE. At bezev, I was partly responsible for designing inclusive educational tools for the Department of “Education for Sustainable Development”.

For a degree in Hermannsburg I believe to be well prepared due to the already acquired skills and the foreign language skills German Language of B2+ level. My whole life time I have spoken English from childhood and studied in English, in addition to learning Literature in English during my high school time in Uganda.

A Bachelor’s Degree at Fachhochschule für Interkulturelle Theologie Hermannsburg, I see as an ideal step to tie in with my previous knowledge and my experiences and building on this to qualify for entry into the profession. Of importance to me are the elevated level of application orientation and the many practical elements of the degree program, which are unique globally especially in Development and Cooperation work that focuses on interculturality discipline. The high internationality and interculturality of the Fachhochschule für Interkulturelle Theologie in Hermannsburgis also very advantageous for my cross-cultural and international growth.

In addition to my professional goal of becoming an International Cooperation Expert, I see a vivid advantage in this transdisciplinary study program through which I can deepen my International Development Cooperation knowledge with a Bachelor’s Degree at Fachhochschule für Interkulturelle Theologie Hermannsburg. No matter which career path I choose, I am convinced that the studies in Hermannburg gives me the necessary skills and knowledge and I would be very happy to receive an admission to this wonderful program that starts this Winter Semester of 2018.