Initiated and sponsored by Stiftungsgemeinschaft anstiftung & ertomis
Shimeles Shimeles, 48 years old, born in Ethiopia, lives in Germany since 1980.His nature: The desire and ability to develop social structures (society), organising ability, integrity, professional know-how on gardening. His goals: To mobilise others to participate; to use the chances he has got Shimeles was fundamentally involved in the founding of the first intercultural garden project in Germany. As a gardening engineer he was able to provide essential know-how needed to overcome the initial difficulties. But his intrinsic value was something else: The project needed someone who strongly believed in its success and who was able to grasp and convey its entire value. In Göttingen, Shimeles was the perfect man for this. Together with like-minded people, he developed a multifaceted project, in which they constantly try out new schemes: they range from a summer camp for teenagers, a cooperation with a nearby kindergarten unto taught language and computer skill courses. When Shimeles talks about the individual progress in the five gardens in Göttingen, his eyes go bright and he starts to grin – proud but moderate. In his opinion, the "recipe for success" in the gardens lies in the continuity and serenity of this work, which pays slowly but surely. Shimeles is like a spokesman and representative of the gardening movement. In his lectures he illustrates large, visionary concepts with which he manages to promote the significance of the gardens, for a modern country of immigration in a convincing way. He believes in the, in Germany given opportunities to participate and that a society that focuses on diversity is the better one. |