About us
Help, peace, solidarity – since 2007
The African Muslim Circle (AMK e.V.) is a network of Muslims of the African diaspora in Berlin and the surrounding area. We work for development and peace in Africa and for good relations among all people in Berlin.
Our members have their roots in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Togo, Nigeria, Mali, Niger and Eritrea, among other countries.
since 2008
partnership with ADDC in Foumban, Cameroon
since 2012
at least one symposium or major event every year
180
women and young people have received vocational training in Douala and Foumban since 2022
1st prize
at the Bridge Builders’ Fair 2017 for our school project in Cameroon
Who we are
Our goals
We want to fight poverty and promote development and peace in Africa. In doing so, we make a point of supporting people who are particularly disadvantaged – above all women, children and people with disabilities, regardless of their origin or faith. Our projects aim to open up prospects for people in their home countries.
In Berlin, we work for understanding between peoples and for peaceful coexistence among everyone. Migrants should be able to take an active part in debates on development policy. We also see ourselves as an African cultural forum and want to preserve African culture and values.
Our motto
Help – Peace – Solidarity
That is what our logo says. The banner at our symposia reads: “Peace promotes development.”
What we do
Four areas of work
Work in Africa
Together with local partners, we carry out projects, the larger ones mainly in Cameroon: building schools, vocational training and career counseling for young people, women and internally displaced people, and help with hospital costs.
Development education
For us, peace and development are a task for society as a whole. Since 2012 we have hosted symposia, panel discussions and future workshops, mostly with experts from the African diaspora.
Interfaith and intercultural dialogue
We build bridges between religions and cultures. In Berlin’s Wedding district we have brought mosques, churches and migrant associations together and taken part in several Open Mosque Days.
Participation
We have empowered people of African origin in Berlin: with the AfrisCool holiday program (2018 to 2020), with sports and workshops for women (2020), and with a network of schools, mosques and youth centers (2014).
Our approach
We see ourselves as intermediaries for resources and experience – not as the ones who prescribe solutions.
Our partner organizations develop project ideas together with the people on the ground. Along the way, we consciously reflect on the power imbalances that the colonial era has left behind to this day.
Partners
Who we work with
In Cameroon we work with two long-standing partner organizations; in Berlin with our sister organization and with mosques, church congregations and migrant associations.
ADDC, Foumban (Cameroon)
Our permanent partner in Cameroon since 2008. ADDC has built six schools and a daycare center in the Noun department and runs a vocational school in Foumban. Together we have put up a school building in Koufomloum and set up a counseling center for business start-ups and career guidance.
J2DC, Douala (Cameroon)
Jeunesse pour le Développement Durable du Cameroun was founded in 2018 and is run entirely by volunteers. With J2DC we have carried out training programs in Douala and Foumban for internally displaced people, disadvantaged young people and women: in sewing, motorcycle mechanics and small-livestock farming.
NARUD e.V., Berlin
Our sister organization in Berlin. Together we built the Wedding Network for Intercultural Dialogue, and in 2020 we ran the AfrisCool holiday program together with NARUD’s parents’ project “SAfE – Strengthening African Parents”.
Networks
We are a member of three associations and in regular contact with the Center for Interfaith Dialogue.
- State Network of African Associations (LAV e.V.)
- Alliance for Development Policy with Africa (BEA e.V.)
- moveGLOBAL e.V. umbrella organization
- Center for Interfaith Dialogue, Berlin-Moabit
What we offer
Our members bring many languages and a wealth of experience. We are happy to share them:
- Moderating events and discussions
- Translation and interpreting: German, English, French
- Further education and training
1st prize
Award at the Bridge Builders’ Fair 2017
Our project “Educational Opportunities for All in Koufomloum” won first prize in the “Engagement in Africa” category at the KENAKO Africa Festival in Berlin. The jury particularly praised its inclusive approach: the project was aimed at girls, children from poor families and children of the Bororo minority.
Our history
Milestones
From our founding to today: projects in Cameroon, education and dialogue in Berlin.
- 2007 The association is founded and begins its development cooperation work
- 2008 Start of the partnership with ADDC in Cameroon
- 2012 First development education project: the event series “Security Issues in Northwest Africa”
- 2013 Expansion of the hospital mosque in Foumban, with drinking water and a library for children and young people
- 2016/17 New school building in Koufomloum; in Berlin, “Coming Together Through Dialogue” and the Wedding Network for Intercultural Dialogue
- 2017/18 Counseling center for business start-ups, career guidance and legal migration in Foumban
- 2018 First AfrisCool holiday program for children in Berlin
- 2020 More school places and tailoring training for internally displaced people in the Noun department; in Berlin, “Femmes Dynamiques” for Muslim women
- 2022/23 Sewing training for internally displaced people in Douala, together with J2DC
- 2024/25 Motorcycle mechanics training in Douala and Foumban; two symposia on the war in Sudan
- 2025/26 Training in small-livestock farming and animal-feed production in Douala and Foumban
- 2026 Future Workshop “Cameroon – On the Path to a Third Republic?”
Funding
Who makes our work possible
We fund our work through membership fees and donations. For larger projects we have received funding from, among others:
- German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through Engagement Global and Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken
- Berlin State Office for Development Cooperation (LEZ)
- Schmitz-Stiftungen
- Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM)
- Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World)
- Robert Bosch Stiftung
Get in touch
Questions about our projects? Interested in working with us or in our events? We look forward to hearing from you.