German Connects: A Day of Encounters at GISA

German International School Accra welcomes guests from education and diplomacy – New partnership with the University of Education, Winneba

Accra. German songs filled the stage, students presented creative projects, and conversations brought people together across school and national boundaries. German Language Day at the German International School Accra (GISA) on 31 October demonstrated how language can connect people. As host and bridge-builder, the school welcomed German learners, university students, teachers, families and guests from a wide range of institutions.

The opening remarks were delivered by Swiss Ambassador Dr Thomas Oertle, Sandra Gintsberger, First Secretary and Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum, and Sarah Pfaffernoschke, Deputy German Ambassador. Their joint presence highlighted the diversity of the German-speaking world and its connections with Ghana. Throughout the afternoon, German emerged as a shared language that creates opportunities for education, cultural exchange and personal encounters.

Head of School Rainer Kropp-Kurta welcomed guests to a school whose guiding principle, “Building Bridges”, came vividly to life during the event. The German Teachers Association Ghana and ÖSD Ghana / König Language School also contributed to the opening programme.

School and university students took centre stage. The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) presented the play “German TV Studio Live”, while the University of Cape Coast contributed songs and poems. Performances by Robert Memorial Complex School of Accra, UniMAC, König Language School and Collège St. Pierre Claver ranged from poetry and cultural presentations to poetry slam. Bezalel Educational Complex and Opoku Ware School brought German pop music to the stage with Andreas Bourani’s “Auf uns” and Johannes Oerding’s “An guten Tagen”. GISA students contributed a song and a group dance.

GISA’s student projects also demonstrated the many ways of exploring German language and culture. Primary pupils created films and stop-motion animations, worked with clay and made their own tic-tac-toe games, while other activities explored German celebrations. Secondary students designed a calendar offering a “Journey Through the Seasons”, explored German art and examined migration stories linking Germany with Chile, Brazil and Texas, as well as Türkiye with Germany.

Creative work from German as a Foreign Language lessons added another dimension. Students had researched and practised German clapping rhymes, producing posters and explanatory videos to share the games with others. Poems and poetry slam offered further opportunities to express their own ideas in German. The street art project led by Clemencia Mayoga also left a lasting mark, with students contributing their artwork to the school environment.

Traditional dishes added a culinary dimension to the programme. Childcare and activities for younger guests helped make the event an enjoyable experience for families. Between performances, project presentations and food, there was time for valuable encounters: teachers exchanged experiences, university students got to know the school, and families connected with visiting guests.

A particular highlight was the signing of a cooperation agreement between GISA and the University of Education, Winneba. The agreement provides a foundation for closer collaboration between the school and the university. Planned classroom observation visits for UEW students are intended to bring this exchange into everyday school life and offer insights into German language teaching.

The participating institutions and the entire GISA team contributed to the event’s success, combining careful preparation with warm hospitality. The school proved to be a place where people from different backgrounds could meet, share perspectives and build connections. Beyond the celebration, the day leaves new contacts, shared experiences and opportunities for further cooperation. Its lasting message: German connects.