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weltwärts
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Local encounters – Partner conference in Mexico

Many of the participants who travelled to Guadalajara in Mexico for the partner conference between 28 March and 1 April probably rejoiced at finally being able to meet in person again. Two years of the pandemic meant that this was the first weltwärts partner conference that could be held since – in compliance with hygiene measures, of course.

This image shows a group photo of participants at the partner conference. A banner with the weltwärts logo is visible in the background.
Some of the participants at the partner conference in Guadalajara.

65 participants from Central American countries, the Caribbean and Germany used this time to network with other partners and implementers, and to continue to jointly develop the weltwärts programme.

The conference was arranged by the organisations IB VAP Franken and Kiekare México. They showed a lot of engagement and tireless dedication to guarantee a problem free event and to ensure that all the participants felt completely at ease – including with regard to the coronavirus rules.
The conference was run by the extremely competent moderating duo Eduardo Arevalo from Mexico and former South-North volunteer Exalta Gabriela De La Barra Barra from Bolivia.

A full programme including many different topics awaited the participants: it started off with presentations and lots of input from the programme. The second day saw the participating organisations exchanging ideas, networking and talking about their experiences. The programme stakeholders mostly occupied themselves with challenges resulting from the pandemic, funding opportunities for engagement with voluntary returnees, finding new opportunities to expand work areas in sustainable and “green” places of assignment, the programme’s funding structure, and the design of community work.

There was also plenty of time to socialise. A joint excursion to Tlaquepaque and a spontaneous morning yoga session also enabled participants to get to know each other better outside of work groups and plenary discussions. The last evening of the conference was rounded off with a self-organised Fiesta Latina and a typical Mexican Mariachi band, equipped with guitar, violin, trumpets, harps and the Mexican stringed instrument the vihuela. This ensemble resulted in a dance or two.

Impressions of the Partner conference in Mexico

  • The organisations used creatively prepared stands to introduce themselves and their work. Several participants are sitting at a table decorated with the Mexican flag, others are standing in front of the table and are looking at the information material.
    All of the organisations introduced themselves on the same day. Naturally the host country Mexico also made a presentation.
  • A group of seven people are standing behind a long table. The table and the wall behind them are decorated with garlands and Costa Rican flags, and there is information material on the table.
    The organisations introduce themselves. This image shows the partner organisation from Costa Rica.
  • A man is standing on the right of the image and is speaking into a microphone. People are sitting opposite him and to the right by the wall and they are listening to him. He is using a projector for his presentation.
    The volunteer representative from PFIF (the political voluntary representation of international voluntary services), in this case the current representative Alejandro Rios, introduces himself.
  • The participants are sitting together in a large circle of chairs.
    There are lots of opportunities for exchange and networking during the conference.
  • The conference participants are standing outdoors on a city square between large coloured letters forming the word Tlaquepaque; palms can be seen in the background.
    In addition to an exchange of professional ideas, there were also joint excursions, like this one to Tlaquepaque, for example.
  • The organisations used creatively prepared stands to introduce themselves and their work. Several participants are sitting at a table decorated with the Mexican flag, others are standing in front of the table and are looking at the information material.
    All of the organisations introduced themselves on the same day. Naturally the host country Mexico also made a presentation.
  • A group of seven people are standing behind a long table. The table and the wall behind them are decorated with garlands and Costa Rican flags, and there is information material on the table.
    The organisations introduce themselves. This image shows the partner organisation from Costa Rica.
  • A man is standing on the right of the image and is speaking into a microphone. People are sitting opposite him and to the right by the wall and they are listening to him. He is using a projector for his presentation.
    The volunteer representative from PFIF (the political voluntary representation of international voluntary services), in this case the current representative Alejandro Rios, introduces himself.
  • The participants are sitting together in a large circle of chairs.
    There are lots of opportunities for exchange and networking during the conference.
  • The conference participants are standing outdoors on a city square between large coloured letters forming the word Tlaquepaque; palms can be seen in the background.
    In addition to an exchange of professional ideas, there were also joint excursions, like this one to Tlaquepaque, for example.

Partner conferences reinforce the collaboration and networking between partner organisations from the countries of the Global South and the German implementing organisations. They also provide an excellent opportunity to discuss programme-related issues with representatives from partner organisations and the Programme Steering Committee. A regional partner conference enables the partner organisations in the weltwärts programme to exchange ideas, to network and to meet once again in person. The support and further development of the weltwärts programme in times of a pandemic raise many questions and challenges. The concerns of participants and current developments within weltwärts are therefore the primary focus.

Downloads

Documentación de la conferencia en México

Dokumentation der weltwärts Partnerkonferenz in Mexiko

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