House groups

ARASGUI e.V. is an association of Guinean citizens, friends and sympathizers.

The association connects people from Guinea who live in Bielefeld and the surrounding area.
Meetings are held regularly on 1. Sunday of the month from 3 p.m. in the IBZ.

For 16 years we have been with IBZ and are committed to sports, culture (home culture, children's culture festival), integration.

Information to follow shortly

Bayanihan Pilipino e.V. was founded in April 1990 to strengthen and strengthen German-Philippine friendships on the one hand, and to familiarize the Filipino children born and/or growing up here in Germany with Philippine culture and life on the other. We, the Bayanihan Pilipino e.V., currently have about 50 members, German and Filipino, but mostly Filipino.
We meet every Friday afternoon at the IBZ to be together and talk. In 1995 we started an annual project in our home country Philippines, such as the completion of a covered bus stop or a basketball court with baskets.

The Eritrean women's group was founded about 30 years ago by women who fled Eritrea during the war of independence and has existed as a house group in the IBZ for about as long. Through the participation of women in the struggle, the image of the Eritrean woman began to change in society in the 70s and 80s. The issue of equality became more and more the focus and women began to deal with it intensively.

This newly gained self-confidence was not only limited to Eritrean society, but was also carried into exile, so that almost everywhere in the world where an Eritrean community could be found, a women’s group also existed – as was the case here in Bielefeld.

The aim of the foundation was the mutual support and the mediation of a sense of home in a foreign country. Especially the latter was a very important factor, as the new life in the diaspora was associated with many hurdles, so that they could draw strength from it.

Our group currently has 9 active members.

At our meetings, we address issues that affect Eritrean women in the diaspora and also in Eritrea itself.

In addition to our regular meetings, we also organize celebrations at the IBZ twice a year: One on the occasion of International Women’s Day to recall that today’s state of equality for women should not be taken for granted and is a process that has not yet been completed, and the other on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities to focus on people, especially women, in Eritrea who need special support.

In addition to our own meetings and celebrations, we also participate in central events of the IBZ in our role as a house group and are pleased that this provides us with a platform to act as a cultural ambassador.

For over 20 years, the Eritrean community has been part of the IBZ. We are very aware of the fact that the IBZ is a platform where the differences and diversity of the groups have their place. Different cultures, origins and focal points of the work exist as in a mosaic harmoniously side by side and with each other.

The Eritrean community is also at the forefront of the IBZ Peace House’s mission statements – such as its commitment to the interests of its national and foreign citizens, the rights of refugees and minorities, a more humane multicultural society and against human rights violations and xenophobia. Through events (films, exhibitions, information evenings, music and dances) we have been able to make many friends in recent years. In the IBZ and in cooperation with the Welthaus, the Eritreans worked hard for freedom and self-determination. Today, they are trying to cultivate the land and maintain peace in Eritrea.

Our community has over 60 adult members. In addition to the above-mentioned events, their activities are also aimed at children and young people born in Germany.

The main areas of work are:

Mother tongue lessons for children, adolescents and adults
Mediation of the "abc" of Eritrean culture to those born here
Support for reconstruction projects in Eritrea
Participation in the design of the IBZ activities

We meet once a month, every second Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
We discuss our lives and political issues as well as recommendations on living in Germany.
Every Sunday from 10am to 12pm, we help children learn our native language and talk about our culture and music.

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