Daniel Susu, the Ghanaian South-North volunteer at the Bremen Mission offices, reports on his first experiences in Bremen.

I arrived in Bremen on 1st June 2026 for my voluntary service and would like to share with you today my experiences so far in Bremen and at my workplace. Everything has been going well so far — Bremen is a very pleasant and safe city for newcomers, as I have felt safe here since my arrival in Germany. As for Bremen as a city in Germany, it is a great honour to be in such a city; the level of safety is high and, compared to my home country, good for all residents of the city.

In the months I have spent here so far, I have noticed that the country's laws apply to everyone and not just to a particular group of people, as is the case in some countries, where the laws apply only to the poor whilst the rich get away scot-free. Since I have been here, I have not experienced racism from anyone, and I consider this commendable, both for the city and for the country.

In the few months I have now been in Bremen, I have gained the impression that people here respect one another, regardless of skin colour and regardless of where one happens to be.
The biggest challenge I have faced so far is the language, and I am working on learning it. Being in Germany without speaking the language is one of the most difficult experiences for a person, as in Germany one rarely meets anyone who speaks English — and even when they can, they prefer to speak German rather than English. Sometimes it is very difficult to buy something because of the language, as one has to communicate in the national language.

At my workplace at the Bremen Mission, I work together with people who are very helpful, friendly, kind and open. Even though I do not yet have a good command of the language, they support me. Their motivation and their attitude towards work are very impressive.

That has been my experience so far, and I am truly enjoying every moment.