THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The AFRO.MESSE, which took place last Saturday in Frankfurt, brought together representatives of African diaspora organizations, social initiatives and integration projects from across Germany. The event served as a vibrant platform for exchange, cooperation and showcasing the achievements of African communities in the fields of business, culture and social engagement.
One of the highlights of the day was the recognition of Virginia Wangare Greiner, founder and director of Maisha e.V., who was honoured for her long-standing commitment to the empowerment and well-being of African migrants. For about three decades, Greiner and her organization have played a pioneering role in promoting health education, legal awareness and social participation among African migrants in Germany.
In her speech, delivered to an attentive audience, Ms Greiner reflected on the importance of collaboration between official advisory institutions and community-based organizations. She emphasized that empowerment and sustainable integration can only succeed when the voices and experiences of affected communities are taken seriously.
“We are directly rooted in our communities,” she said. “We know their realities and specific challenges. Our work is low-threshold, culturally sensitive and empowering. We create spaces for self-determination, resistance and collective learning.”
Greiner used the occasion to call for greater political recognition and financial support for community-led organizations that often bridge the gap between migrants and public structures. “Without these structures, many experiences remain unheard,” she noted, underlining the vital role of grassroots initiatives like Maisha e.V. in shaping an inclusive society.
Her remarks resonated deeply with the spirit of AFRO.MESSE, which this year placed special focus on visibility, empowerment and the creation of sustainable partnerships within African diaspora communities.
The honour bestowed upon Greiner was widely seen as a tribute not only to her personal achievements but also to the collective efforts of countless activists working to make Germany a more equitable and inclusive country.
Originally from Kenya, Virginia Wangare Greiner has lived in Germany since the 1980s. She founded Maisha e.V. in 1996 as a self-help network for African women, one of the first such initiatives in the African community in Germany.
Over the years, she has built the organization into a vital resource, offering health counselling, legal support, integration assistance and programs such as Maisha Business Women in Europe (MBWE), which helps asylum-seeking and returned women achieve economic independence through crafts and entrepreneurship.
She has also been a prominent advocate on issues such as female genital mutilation, forced prostitution and the rights of undocumented migrants.
Greiner has received numerous awards for her work, including the Federal Cross of Merit in 2006, the first person of African origin to be so honoured, the Elisabeth Norgall International Award in 2017, the Corporate LiveWire Prestige Award in 2020/21 for MBWE and the HeroinesAward in 2024.
Femi Awoniyi
More information about Maisha e.V. at https://www.maisha.org/
