After dealing with many organizational issues, making plans, and lots of prayers, it finally became clear: The visa issues would be resolved—and just a few days later, we were actually able to welcome our sisters and brothers from Nigeria to Stuttgart.
The travel group consisted of two staff members and six young adults. The main purpose of the trip was to engage in youth ministry and visit local farms – after all, an agricultural trip to Nigeria had taken place just last fall.
The group first toured the Reutlingen area, then participated in the XXL Club Camp in Blaubeuren, and explored local organizations, schools, and youth ministry initiatives around Vaihingen and Stuttgart as well as in Hohenlohe.
On Saturday, the traditional Nigeria Friendship Day took place in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, an annual event where people who feel connected to Nigeria and the partnership gather.
A special highlight was that various people accepted invitations during the exchange trip and attended the Friendship Day.
Overall, a great many people, groups, and communities contributed to making these ten days rich with encounters and exchanges, prayers, and moments of revelation. While digital communication has become a good way to stay in touch and connect—we realized once again very clearly that nothing beats personal contact.
Attached are two articles that take a closer look at specific aspects of the trip:
[…] The focus was on the volunteer work that Nigerians actively engage in back home. Caleb Timothy, the coordinator of the YMCAs (Young Men’s Christian Association) in northern Nigeria, reported that in his home country, young people are not seen as a problem for society, but rather as a solution. Staff members from various regional YMCAs in northern Nigeria are visiting at the invitation of the Protestant Youth Organization in Württemberg to learn about Protestant youth work and the living conditions of young people in Germany. The guests vividly described their personal experiences and gave the young people insight into their daily lives. It became clear that, despite differing living conditions, many hopes and goals are similar: a good education, professional success, peace, and the opportunity to actively shape one’s own future. The guests shared their hopes for the future and encouraged the students to take responsibility for themselves and their fellow human beings. This led to a lively exchange. Landmarks, scenic features, and tourist highlights were brought directly into the classroom using a whiteboard.
The students were particularly impressed by the food, which, on the one hand, is so different even though it consists of very similar ingredients, and, on the other hand, reminds them of dishes from the home countries of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. There was also singing and other activities. […]
On June 13, 2026, the Evangelical Youth Organization in Württemberg, together with the CVJM Weltdienst, celebrated the 60th anniversary of its partnership with the YMCA Nigeria – Northern Zone.
In 1966, the first YMCA secretary, Fritz Mast, was sent to Nigeria at the request of the Nigerian YMCA to support the local YMCA. No one could have known at the time that the Biafran War would break out in 1967, a conflict that lasted 2½ years and claimed thousands of lives in the struggle for independence and control of oil resources.
Nevertheless, Fritz and Brigitte Mast from Grötzingen remained in Kaduna, in northern Nigeria, with their children during this time. Over the years, in collaboration with Nigerian colleagues, they established a YMCA Youth Hostel, a training center for mechanics, and later a carpentry workshop in Bauchi, an agricultural training program in Ikposogye/Obi, and kindergarten and elementary school programs in various locations. All of this was always combined with traditional youth work, such as youth groups and camps, Bible study groups, and more. And to this day, the YMCA’s work continues to grow in a wide variety of locations—despite the unstable political situation.
We at the Reutlingen YMCA have also been supporting this work for many decades through our annual Christmas campaign, the Christmas rose sale, and other initiatives. For Günther Digel, who had also served on the World Mission Committee for several years, this commitment was a matter close to his heart.
The visit to Germany by eight young adults from the YMCA Nigeria, Northern Zone, from June 3–15, 2026, was therefore an absolute highlight—not only because obtaining visa approvals these days is nothing short of a minor miracle.
Celebrating 60 years of partnership meant getting to know each other better or for the first time, introducing our way of life to those who were mostly visiting Germany for the first time, visiting farms, meeting with youth groups, enjoying German and Nigerian specialties, and exchanging ideas together: “What is life like in our respective societies?”, “What are our issues, what are yours?”, and—last but not least—looking toward the future together. What might be the tasks and goals of the CVJM’s work here and the YMCA’s work there today?
In the short term, four women from the group came to visit Reutlingen for two days. The Quack and Elwert families had the pleasure of hosting them.
The program included a visit to the Asylum Café on Allensteinerstr. as well as an interesting evening of conversation with many friends of Nigeria from Reutlingen and the surrounding area […]