EVENTS
International Conference on the Project "Promoting Mental Health: Nationwide Transcultural Empowerment of Youth and Young Adults in Communities"
November 25, 2025
Kick-off meeting for the project "Promoting mental health: Nationwide transcultural empowerment of adolescents and young adults in communities"
From September 5 to 7, 2025
International Conference on the Project "Promoting Mental Health: Nationwide Transcultural Empowerment of Youth and Young Adults in Communities"
November 2025
On November 25, 2025, the international conference of the project “Promoting mental health: Nationwide transcultural empowerment of adolescents and young adults in communities” took place in Hamburg. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth and implemented nationwide by LESSAN e.V. Community organizers across Germany carry out creative activities to support young women and girls in coping with traumatic experiences. The conference gave them the opportunity to present their work in the project and their results—from theatre and poetry slam to musical performances. Participants were also able to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and build new networks. The inspiring and successful event concluded with a shared international dinner.
Kick-off meeting for the project "Promoting mental health: Nationwide transcultural empowerment of adolescents and young adults in communities"
September 2025
From September 5 to 7, 2025, the kick-off event for the project “Promoting mental health: Nationwide transcultural empowerment of adolescents and young adults in communities” took place. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth and implemented nationwide by LESSAN e.V. Community organizers across Germany, together with subject-matter experts in mindfulness, music, art, dance, painting, poetry, and movement, carry out creative activities to support young women and girls in coping with traumatic experiences. For the project launch, the community organizers and experts from across Germany came together in Hamburg. The three days were shaped by lively exchange, expert input, and practical exercises that not only conveyed knowledge but also made a sense of community tangible. The goal: participants should get to know, try out, and then take practical methods and creative coping strategies back into their own local work. The kick-off meeting was a great success and provides a solid foundation for the successful implementation of the project in communities nationwide.
ILÉ AYÉ AFRIKA 2025
June 2025
On June 7, 2025, the Ilé Ayé Afrika event took place at Afrotopia. With support from Hamburger Hilfsspende, LESSAN e.V. planned and delivered the event. The result of this collaboration was a colourful, vibrant event with live music and a huge buffet provided by the communities present. Visitors had the opportunity to connect with the communities, exchange ideas, and network. With the captivating music of the Angelina Akpovo Band, the unique art of 8 communities, and the heavenly food, the Ilé Ayé Afrika event was a great success.
Zero Tolerance Day against female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
February 2025
The event started at 3:30 PM with a musical welcome. From 4:00 PM, guests arrived both on site and virtually. The afternoon was hosted by Charlotte Njikoufon.
Dr. Gwladys Awo, Chair of LESSAN e.V., opened the event and spoke about the goals of the project “Nationwide Community – Networking for the transcultural empowerment of people affected by FGM/C”. She highlighted how important transcultural approaches are for healing trauma and praised the commitment of numerous communities actively participating in the initiative.
A musical performance by Florian Bronck on the handpan created a relaxed atmosphere. Afterwards, the project was presented in more detail, especially the transcultural art workshops that have helped affected women and girls and brought about positive change.
Afterwards, Sanogo Doubassin delighted the audience with another musical performance on the kora.
Nationwide community networking for transcultural empowerment of people affected by FGM
December 2024
The event began at 3:45 PM with a musical welcome that warmly greeted both the guests present and the virtual participants*. At 4:00 PM, the official welcome then took place . Charlotte Njikoufon guided the programme with great energy and empathy and skilfully transitioned to the individual speakers.
The opening was delivered by Dr. Gwladys Awo, Chair of the Board of LESSAN e.V. In her speech, she presented the project and explained the connection to the results presented at the conference. She particularly emphasized how important transcultural methods are for healing trauma and acknowledged the commitment of numerous communities that made a significant contribution to the project’s success. Afterwards, Anne Dahlbüdding from the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth, which provided financial support for the project, spoke and shared her perspective.
This was followed by contributions from Christelle Yobo and Dr. Pierette Herzberger-Fofane, who highlighted the importance of such initiatives and their impact on the affected target groups. A special moment of the event was the recognition of Dr. Gwladys Awo for her exceptional commitment. On December 2, 2024, she was awarded the Hammamonia Prize 2024 by the Hamburg State Council. The honour was accompanied by a moving speech that acknowledged her achievements and brought the relevance of the award, as well as the topics of FGM/C and women’s empowerment, to the forefront.
