Tolulope Fatai aus Jos

Bewerbungstext:

I am writing to apply for a position within the Federal Volunteer Service (Bundesfreiwilligendienst), with a strong interest in placements related to cultural heritage, monument preservation, museums, and integration-oriented cultural work.
I hold an academic background in History as well as a Master’s degree in Migration Studies, and I have over ten years of professional experience working on migration, displacement, and integration-related issues with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other international organisations. This interdisciplinary background has shaped my strong commitment to cultural preservation as both a historical responsibility and a practical tool for social cohesion and inclusion.
Through my academic training in History, I developed a deep appreciation for cultural heritage, museums, archives, and monuments as spaces of collective memory and dialogue. I have worked with historical materials, narratives, and community knowledge, and I understand the importance of preserving cultural assets not only as physical structures or artefacts, but also as carriers of identity, memory, and belonging. I am particularly interested in how museums and cultural institutions can serve as inclusive spaces that connect diverse communities and foster intercultural understanding.
In my professional work with IOM, I have supported the integration of refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees from irregular migration, particularly in fragile and post-conflict contexts. This work involved close collaboration with local communities, civil society organisations, and public institutions, as well as direct engagement with individuals navigating processes of reintegration, identity reconstruction, and social inclusion. These experiences have strengthened my sensitivity to the challenges faced by newcomers and returnees, and to the role that culture and shared heritage can play in rebuilding trust and social cohesion.
I am especially motivated to contribute to initiatives that link culture, monument preservation, and integration, for example through educational programmes, guided visits, community outreach, documentation of local histories, or intercultural dialogue activities. I believe that cultural institutions can play a crucial role in helping people with diverse migration backgrounds feel represented, welcomed, and connected to their new social environments.