Dear Students of the Goethe-Zentrum Kathmandu,
Dear Board of Directors of the Goethe-Zentrum Kathmandu,
Dear Members of the Goethe-Zentrum Kathmandu,
Dear Friends and Supporters,
ever since coming to Nepal and am again and again touched by the overwhelming curiosity of young Nepalis about Germany. The friendship between the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany dates back to the year 1958, when diplomatic relations were first established – and has intensified ever since.
Countless German visitors have been able to witness the awe of the Nepalese landscapes and experience the extraordinary hospitality of its citizens. In return a great number of Nepali got the opportunity to study and work in Germany, with many of them finding a new home in Germany.
Germany offers a great many opportunities for young people. You can study for free at more than 400 Universities and Colleges and obtain internationally acknowledged degrees. Via the newly founded Nepal Secretariat of Skills and Training (NSST) it is now possible to enter into an apprenticeship at a German Company. All these opportunities require at least a basic knowledge of the German language.
With the Goethe-Zentrum Kathmandu (GZK) we have an institution in Nepal that offers German language courses in accordance with the standards of the Goethe-Institute. The GZK also offers officially certified examinations. It is the only institution in Nepal that regularly trains its staff and teachers – making it a ‘learning institution’ indeed!
And even more – via the PASCH & BKD network the GZK supports schools in the Kathmandu Valley in offering German language courses as early as the 4th grade. The GZK also engages in various cultural projects designed to establish a platform for an open and trustful intercultural dialogue and exchange. Working with a great number of partners in Nepal, Germany and across South Asia the GZK continues to be an ever more important and innovative partner in the cultural and educational sectors of Nepal.
To overcome the challenges of our time we need to work together more than ever before. To this end we shall never stop to strive to learn about each other, learn from each other – and build bridges rather than walls. In this spirit I encourage you today to learn German at the Goethe-Zentrum Kathmandu! Come and study in Germany or become an apprentice in a German company!
Together we shall strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two countries.
Your Dr. Thomas Prinz
