Dear Friends,
After the discussions in the Deutsch-Indische-Gesellchaft last year, it was decided to start a new Jugend-Beirat (youth advisory board) to improve the activities towards the interests of the Youth or better to say younger generations. In this regards, there were some discussions this year also. After discussions with many people, I thought that it will be good, if we know the interests of the youth. Also, I thought that it is the right opportunity to post this message here in this regards so that we can present it to the Presidential board and discuss the achievement of the better youth activities. Hence, i would be happy to know about the expectations of the Youth from the "DIG". What sorts of developmental activities do you consider towards the development of the youth and their interests. I shall be extremely happy and thankful to all those of you who can write back and reply to this email. Also i kindly request you to kindly respond and forward this email in your friends "Young Indians" and "Young Germans". I think each and every opinion of yours counts very much and shall be very very helpful even though its a single point towards the betterment.
Thanking you in advance and hoping anxiously to get a reply from many of you. You can directly reply me at: cvskiran@gmail.com. If you do not want to write an email with your name and details, you can directly post in a blog on this link or email to this link.
Also many many thanks for your time for reading this email and forwarding this in your local community.
With best wishes,
Your KielKiran
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15 comments:
Hello,
I am sure some of the points I would like to make here must have already been considered or will be considered in the close future, nevertheless I would like to make my suggestions.
1. The very first impression when an Indian as a foreigner with less knowledge of German language visits the web page wonders why the information is not given in English also. Other than the main info about DIG nothing else is in English. Please consider to give the info in English too.
2. Today there is huge influx of Indians into Germany for various reasons (Business, Studies, Cultural exchange etc). And visa versa of Germans to India. And during the process they would have to stay and work in Germany/India. I would like to see an organization like DIG to consider cultural meets at least ones in a year, this could happen at different places in Germany each year. Giving opportunity to Indians/Germans in the local region to organize such an event. This would help in cultural exchange, could lead to have better relations, developing contacts for various purpose etc.
3. I think there is a need to for a funding organization like DAAD for Indian Master students/Bachelor students coming to Germany for studies. I suggest something like a scholarship program for qualified students. Until now we have not noticed any organization including DAAD offering scholarships for regular Masters program and many Indian students have to back off due to high expenditure.
I hope my opinion is echoed by my fellow Indians in Germany.
With regards
Suhas
rvsuhas@gmail.com
I agree with Suhas's first point.
With less or no German you are like an outsider to this DIG.
I presume if the information is in English in parallel to German this would have reached more number of people than it has. Otherwise its even impossible to Google it unless you know the German keywords to search for.
Regarding point 3 :
The education is already cheaper or free compared to US&A and living expenses is a minimum that one should procure for living here while studying.Scholarships are out of question otherwise.
DIG may be a big organization but if it cannot reach new Indians in Germany it will not register a growth.. I think there must be a balance with new Indians coming to Germany and the one's that are settled here..otherwise either community will be left out..if the purpose is at all to bring Indians in Germany together.
cheers
Kovi
Hi,
Both Suhas and Kovi made very good points. Although, I would like to add a suggestion which what i feel is necessary.
Germany is a spectacular place for research and development. Students who are interested for pursuing their masters and Ph.D are finding it difficult to select a good university to choose according to the individual standards. In this regard, I would like the DIG to construct a website especially for the list of universities, information on their ongoing research, and also most importantly, what exactly the university's essential requirements from a student in order to get a seat. All the above information when made available at one particular website, it will be very helpful for the students. This idea of this website can be compared to the www.i20fever.com which has been made available for students who are aspiring to study in USA.
My another suggestion would be, students coming to Germany will be very eager to know their place in which their university is located and also the guidelines to follow once they reach a particular city in Germany. As I have been to Kiel earlier this year, my 3 months stay has been made really comfortable by the website - "coming to kiel". I really thank C.V.S. Kiran for this. It would be very helpful, if such websites are available for other major cities in Germany.
Nikhil Vinayak
Hello,
First of all I would like to congratulate DIG for all the work it has been doing to promote the interaction and realtions between indians coming to germany and the people here. However theres always a scope of improvement and I hope that my comments here might contribute a little to this endeavor.
Firstly ,since a mjority of Indians coming to Germany are primarily students and usually most of the students ,either go through the DAAD sites or visit the DAAD centers in many cities in INDIA, therefore it wont be a bad idea to give out some information about DIG and its members through this medium of DAAD. This can be done by just having a link of DIG on DAAD site or few posters or fliers about DIG at different DAAD centers in INDIA.
This can be a big support for students who are coming to Germany , in case they need any help or info.
Secondly , within Germany as well there are many indians who dont have any knowledge about DIG or its initiative.One of the reasons for this might be that the website of DIG is mostly is German and many would find it hard to go through it. So having an english version will surely help a lot.
Thirdly , it wont be a bad idea to add infos,on the website of DIG, about various DIG chapters in different cities of Germany so that people can have a common platform for discussions and interactions.
I hope my comments here will be of some use, towards the betterment of DIG.
Thnks
AKASH BHATNAGAR
hello,
I think there are Indians in almost all cities of Germany. I suggest DIG to give the handy nummer or a land line number of a person who knows the city better or being in that city for longer time. so that if one has any problem he can just call him and explain his problem to him, because its difficult to expect help from other nationalists at the beginning.
and more over it will be useful those who apply for the universities in the same city.
Some universities are offering this help but not all, so why cant DIG start this help to the new Indians coming to Germany.
I hope my comment will be helpful the Indians here....
B@nu...
Hello.
1.As all my friends stated it earlier . i just want to rewind it and play regarding DIG website. i expect them to update all the information and events which happened and about to happen. And make students get a proper idea how DIG is going to help them.
2. As 3 months old to germany i still dont have much idea about german culture and language. so i request DIG to support fresh students by organising a programme where he/she spend duration of 1 month with a german family as a paying guest.
3. Last but not the least i expect DIG to maintain a common helpdesk in every major cities. so that students feel free to ask their queries related to universities, visa's etc....
Hope DIG will reach to the expectations.
All the best.
Thanking you for giving opportunity to express.
Regards
PRADEEP.K.V.S.M
Hi,
I would like to make a point here.
Please add some information about the accommodation here in Germany.
Generally student comes with an agreement of 3-4 months in the Guest House. But what next those are going to stay for a longer period?
Secondly, I always respect those who are maintaining DIG and related website. But I personally feel,since this is mainly for helping the new comers, you should be specific for a particular thing like health insurance, bank account etc. You should describe like "Take this one because it has the following facilities and affordable" but not like "there are many banks or health insurance company with address"!!! It creates a lot of confusion.
I am not blaming or so. Just frankly giving my suggestions as a friend because I faced these problems.
Above all I would like to thank Kiran for his activity.
The website looks great and any new Indian visiting it will never come back as a word there is not understandable unless someone lives here for some years and know German.
It looks like it is solely for Germans with Indian link or 2nd gen Indians born here.
The expectations from DIG to youth ?
I donno where do u get this thing at all.
The whole thing looks like a German organization.. to speak of Indians and their diversity , it has to reflect on their website atleast.
Please don't tell me that you are in Germany and has to learn German. All is well to say but that does not really help..
Dear Friends,
As most of the points have already been mentioned here by our friends, I would like to mention a few points and they are as follows:
1.The German language is very important for any newcomer coming to Germany.Most of us will join in Volkschule for learning German language but I would suggest to join an intensive course which is expensive.Is it possible for DIG to ORGANISE or SPONSOR for Intensive German language courses?.
2.Giving information to the students regarding the visa regulations and the types of visas such as Work-Permit(Arbeitserlaubnis),limited work-permits and Unlimited Work-Permit(Unbefristet Arbeitserlaubnis), Unemployment benefits(Arbeitslosengeld)etc.
3.Most of our Indians like to play cricket.I came to know in some cities there is no chance to play cricket in an open ground.Is there any chance that DIG can solve such type of problems by speaking to the relevant authorities?.
4.The entertrainment to most of the Indians is cinema.Is it possible for DIG to SPONSOR or PROMOTE few hit movies in open Air Theatres during summer season and in normal Theatres during winter season?.
So these are some of the points which I thought of mentioning here.I hope that they may be helpful for the youth as well as for DIG.
Finally I would like to thank kiel kiran for his helping nature to the fellow students and his activities in DIG.Thanks for giving me this opportunity.
With Best Regards,
Balaji DRS.
I really appreciate your relentless effort to help Indian Community in Germany.
I request below two initiatives to be discussed:
1. A non-profit making job consultancy helping Indian-origin dependent youth to find jobs. The reason behind asking this is dependants(wife or children) do not have good exposure to do partime or full-time jobs. Many of our Indian women who are on dependent status are finding difficulty in finding even part-time jobs though they have Masters degree on Engieering or Management from India. Also, for those who has temporary VISA, their wives are not given work VISA by default for atleast two years. This deters companies from offering them job. Other things that might help is conducting classes(with tution fees ofcourse) on professional courses like SAP, JAVA or .NET etc. with training professionals who are good both in English and German. This would boost productivity of Indians(esp. dependents) in Germany and increases earning capability.
2. I do not know if what I am requesting below comes under the area of interest to DIG, but would like to put across this as many Young Indian couples desire it to have.
As you know, when we invite our parents they get maximum of three months visiting VISA. Is it possible to request to German Govt. to make this 6 months continuous VISA if this visit is also for the purpose of helping Indian couple during baby-conceiving time. Many Indian couples may benefit both morally and medically if this is approved.
I would again like to deeply appreciate your sincere efforts in helping all of us.
Thanks with BEST NEW YEAR WISHES,
Ravi Kiran
With my personal experience in Germany, I would like to highlight few points which may be taken into consideration.
Firstly, Christmas exchange program by DIG was really good.
I am one among the people who benefited by this program. I took part in this program for the first time along with my wife and we enjoyed a lot. As my wife just arrived to Germany on Nov`09, this program helped us to interact with Indo-German family, knowing each other, getting to know about the culture and life style, etc..
This type of cultural and exchange program should be encouraged.
I came to Germany to do my Ph.d in Nov`08. In beginning I don’t have any relativies or friends living in Germany. When I applied for my wife’s dependent visa, German Government asked me to show 5000 Euro as a security deposit to approve my wife dependent visa. Being a student this is such a big amount. These types of rules to be relaxed and make the dependent visa process little easier as the stipend/salary for the PhD is comfortable to run a minimum family of two.
If DIG can make an effort on this , it will be easy for the forthcoming Indian people to Germany.
Finally,
If possible DIG can be advertised in university website. So that DIG should be highlighted to the new Indian students can be aware of and get their start easier from India before they reach Germany.
Thanks and regards
Vijayanand
hi all,
i have read few comments existing in this blog. I completely agree with most of the issues such initiating an Information data base, naming contact persons in cities, help and support regarding courses, universities etc.
I would like to address certain issues which haven't yet been mentioned.
1)Everyone knows that there are many Indian immigrants every year to Germany. The rules and regulations for Indians coming to and living in Germany have been the same since decades. When would German govt relax some of the immigration rules. Would DIG be in a position to represent Indian community and speak as well as negotiate with the German govt to reduce some clauses and paragraphs in the so called ''German rules and regulations book''. For example, reduction of processing time of a student visa application still remains min. 3 weeks (as far as i am informed); reduction of processing time of spouse visa etc.
2) Another important issue is the validity of visa itself. Each state and sometimes each city in Germany handles these issues in their unique manner. For example : Sometimes an applicant receives work permit for 3 years and a similar applicant in another part of Germany is issued a 1 year work permit. It would be really great if DIG would help to narrow down these differences.
3) It would be helpful if DIG or any of its wings would provide legal advice on certain issues such as tenant rights, purchase of land or property etc to Indians living in different parts of Germany. For example : DIG could set up extension centers in major cities operating on 1 or 2 working days per month.
I personally thank Kiran for allowing me to express my views and hope that we as well as our future generations would be able to live in a more rules-relaxed Germany.
Thanks and regards,
Rajesh
Hello,
I am a new student here in Kiel. I came to know about this community DIG by a friend.
Actually I don’t have any idea about the work functions and Goals of this community. Before that I didn’t know about the existence of DIG. To make it popular why don’t we link with universities or with DAAD in India ( Helping communities in Germany for Indians )
When I went through the site there is nothing information useful for a student who wish to come Germany or for the students who are in Germany. Please make some arrangements for new students to finding the seniors and some valuable information regarding Medical Insurance, Arrival service, Accommodation..etc .
For students when they came to a new country it is difficult to find a place to live if they didn’t get any accommodation , my request is to arrange accommodation at least for those students by taking as an paying guest for a short duration so that he can search a place for himself to live.
I really appreciate the people who are behind this community in encouraging Indian culture and organizing meeting during the Celebrations.
As one of our friend said to Maintain the updates of all DIG’s in various cities, so that we can have a common discussions about the events and to know other Indian’s in various cities.
I hope my comments here will be of some use, towards the betterment of DIG.
Thanks
SRIHARI YENUGULA
DIG could be a front line organization if it can implement many of the valid suggestions hosted here. Here i just try to see it from different perspective.
Its not clear, at least to me, what exactly DIG stands for. The website mentions that its focus is on the presentation of Indian culture and religion and socio-political structure.
(It would be great to have the website in English).
I have been to many of the DIG events in the city I stay, most of them were either some general meeting or Indian festival celebrations. And the these festive events went on without providing the true meaning of our culture and the meaning behind the festivals.
There was nothing like inter cultural exchange. How about some events related to the German culture.
Most of the suggestions given here are about the difficulties faced by new comer, specially students, to Germany regarding their study, living, health and numerous other issues, and in what way DIG could make their stay a pleasant one.
The question is whether DIG wants counsel the new comers or it wants to limit its presence merely to the cultural aspects of the two countries.
As suggested by most here, if it can provide a help disk, the presence of DIG will be felt more strongly.
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