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Nelli Foumba Soumaoro from Hamm

In his spare time Guinea-born student Nelli Foumba Soumaoro is actively involved in efforts to help integrate refugees.

12.04.2016

“It’s important that refugees are given 
a voice of their own so that in Germany they are not regarded as a problem 
but possibly as a solution. That’s why I’m actively involved in efforts to help newly 
arrived refugees and promote their integration. I know how that works. After 
all, I myself fled from Guinea to Germany in 2005. The most important thing is learning German. That’s what enabled me to settle in here, complete school and study social work in Dortmund. I want to pass on my experience – by supporting 
an initial reception centre, advising local authorities and trying to give people 
in Germany a positive view of the African continent through my association Yes 
Africa. In 2015, I received the Prize of the Multicultural Forum in Lünen for my work. When I can find time, I play football with the Friedenssportler (Sportspeople for Peace). After all, before fleeing from Guinea I played in my country’s U-15 national team. When I arrived in Germany, ‘football player’ was listed as occupation in my passport.”